THE 


N.  H.  Federal  Convention. 

i  788. 


THE   OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


Xxxfy  d  %  Jf*b*ml  Constitution. 


A     HISTORY 


Neto   $ampsl)ire    Contention 

FOR  THE  INVESTIGATION,  DISCUSSION,  AND  DECISION 

OF   THE 

FEDERAL    CONSTITUTION: 


AND    OF   THE 


Old   Hootch   QQeeting-I^ouse 

OF    CONCORD, 

In  which  it  was  Ratified  by  the  N#nth  State,  and  thus 

Rendered  Operative,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  on 

Saturday,  the  21  st  day  of  June, 

1788. 

BY   JOSEPH    B.   WALKER. 


And  sovereign  law,  that  state's  collected  will, 

O'er  thrones  and  globes  elate, 
Sits  empress,  crowning  good,  repressing  ill. 

— Sir  William  Jones. 


BOSTON : 


Copyright : 
By  JOSEPH    B.   WALKER 

1888. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SANTA   BAKCaRA  C;>LLE  IE  LIBRARY 


TO   THE 

HONORABLE   GEORGE  W.   NESMITH,   LL.D. 

FOR    SIXTY-THREE    YEARS    A    MEMBER    OF 

THE   NEW    HAMPSHIRE   BAR, 

AND    A    LIFE-LONG    FRIEND    OF    THE 

GREAT  EXPOUNDER 

OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

THE    FOLLOWING    ACCOUNT    OF    THE 

N.    H.    FEDERAL   CONVENTION 

IS     MOST     RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED 

BY    HIS    SINCERE    FRIEND, 

JOSEPH   B.   WALKER. 

Concord,  N.  H.,  Nov.  i,  1SS8. 


PREFACE. 

An  interest  awakened  by  the  centennial  anniversary 
of  the  ratification  by  New  Hampshire  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  prompted  the  preparation  of 
this  account  of  our  Federal  Convention.1 

Two  facts  render  its  proceedings  particularly  memo- 
rable, viz., — 

1.  In  our  Convention  ratification  received  its  first  check. 
A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  former  policy  of  British 
rule  under  the  Georges,  and  of  the  selfish  administra- 
tions of  their  provincial  governors,  had  rendered  our 
forefathers  cautious,  when  asked  to  surrender  to  a 
superior  central  power  a  portion  of  the  rights  which 
they  had  acquired  by  a  profuse  expenditure  of  blood 
and  treasure.  Moreover,  the  public  sentiment  of  the 
state  was  averse  to  slavery,2  gradually  dying  out  within 
its  own  limits,  and  any  national  provision  conservative 
of  that  institution  did  not  command  a  wide  approval. 
Then,  too,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire  were,  at 


1  The  New  Hampshire  Histor- 
ical Society  celebrated  this  an- 
niversary at  Concord,  on  the 
21st  day  of  June,  1888,  by  an 
address  by  Hon.  James  W.  Pat- 
terson, at  the  Opera  House,  in 
the  forenoon,  which  was  follow- 
ed in  the  afternoon  by  a  dinner 


and  appropriate  post-prandial 
speeches,  many  of  which  were 
made  by  distinguished  guests 
of  the  society  from  other  states. 

2  Slavery  died  a  natural  death 
in  New  Hampshire.  It  was  nev- 
er formally  abolished  by  statute. 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

this  time,  almost  wholly  an  agricultural  people.  Its 
short  coast  line  afforded  but  one  harbor,  and  its  impor- 
tant water-powers  were  still  unimproved.  Its  virgin 
soil  yielded  to  its  hardy  occupants  a  satisfactory  sup- 
port, and  these  felt  but  little  the  need  of  a  stronger 
general  government. 

2.  But  for  this  check  New  Hampshire  would  have  been 
the  seventh  state  to  ratify  the  Federal  Constitution,  and 
the  honor  of  being  the  ninth  and  thereby  completing  the 
number  required  to  render  operative  its  provisions  would 
have  attached  to  another.  Discouraging  as  this  check 
at  first  proved  to  the  Federalists  throughout  the  coun- 
try, it  afterwards  secured  to  New  Hampshire  a  distinc- 
tion which  but  one  only  of  the  thirteen  states  could 
possibly  enjoy — a  distinction  which  the  citizens  of  New 
Hampshire  ought  always  to  appreciate  and  never  under- 
value. 

Of  the  fact  that  the  history  of  our  Federal  Conven- 
tion is  worthy  of  a  more  exhaustive  examination  than 
any  which  it  has  yet  received,  no  one  is  more  fully 
aware  than  the  author  of  this  volume.  If  its  publication 
shall  contribute  in  any  degree  to  the  attainment  of  this 
end,  the  most  important  object  of  its  issue  will  have 
been  accomplished. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  grandest  period  of  American  history. — A  new  nation. — Need 
of  a  stronger  government. — Brevity  of  the  Journal  of  the  Con- 
vention.— Few  reports  of  speeches  of  members  preserved. 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE    MEMBERS    OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

Names  of  delegates  from  the  several  towns  and  places. — Biograph- 
ical sketches  of  prominent  members. 

CHAPTER  III. 

FIRST    SESSION   OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

Examination  and  discussion  of  the  Constitution.  —  Ratification 
found  impossible. — Adjournment  to  a  future  day  proposed, 
opposed,  and  carried. 

CHAPTER   IV. 

DURING   THE    INTERIM. 

Friends  of  the  Constitution  at  first  disappointed  by  the  adjourn- 
ment.— Progress  of  ratification  in  other  states. — Efforts  of  the 
Federalists  during  the  recess. 

CHAPTER  V. 

SECOND    SESSION   OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

General  interest  in  its  proceedings. — First  and  second  days. — Ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  to  propose  amendments.  —  Mr. 
Atherton's   motion   to  ratify  conditionally  defeated. — Judge 


X  CONTENTS. 

Livermore's  motion. — Motion  to  adjourn  defeated. — The  main 
question  put. — The  final  vote. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

CLOSING   WORK   OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

The  formal  announcement  to  Congress  of  its  action  by  the  Con- 
vention.— The  leaders  of  the  two  parties. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

EFFECTS    OF    THE   NEWS    OF    RATIFICATION   BY   THE   NINTH    STATE. 

Celebrations  and  rejoicings  at  Portsmouth,  Boston,  Salem,  Provi- 
dence, Newport,  and  elsewhere. 

CHAPTER  VIII.    . 

THE    OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE    OF    CONCORD. 

Frame. — Raising. — Dimensions. — Location. —  Seats . —  Proprietors. 
Bow  controversy. — Completion. —  Pews. —  Pulpit. — Gallery. — 
Singing-seats. — Horse-block. — Sale  of  pews. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE — CONCLUDED. 

Enlargement.— Bell. — First  bell-ringer. — Toleration  Act. — Sale  of 
town's  interest  in  the  house  and  bell.— Remodelling  of  pews. 
— Occupancy  by  the  New  Hampshire  Constitutional  Conven- 
tions of  1778,  1781,  and  1791,  and  by  the  General  Court  in 
1782  and  subsequently.  —  Introduction  of  stoves.  —  Election 
sermons. —  Its  abandonment  as  a  house  of  worship,  and  its 
conversion  to  a  Methodist  theological  seminary.— Its  destruc- 
tion by  fire. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page. 
Fac-simile  of  the  Heading  of  the  account 

in  the  New  Hampshire   Gazette   of   the 

Celebration  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  26th 

day   of  June,  1788,  of   the  Ratification 

of  the  Constitution 56 

Old  North  Meeting-House 65 

Pulpit     ..-....••••  74 

Horse-Block 79 

Plan  of  Gallery 84 

Plan  of  First  Floor 92 


CHAPTER   I 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  grandest  period  of  American  history.  A. 
new  nation.  Need  of  a  stronger  government. 
Brevity  of  the  Journal  of  the  Convention. 
Few  reports  of  speeches  of  members  preserved. 

The  grandest  period  in  American  history  is, 
perhaps,  all  things  considered,  that  during  which 
the  thirteen  colonies  raised  themselves  from  a 
condition  of  royal  dependence  to  that  of  a  sta- 
ble nationality.  It  began  with  the  assembling 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  fifth  day  of 
September,  1774,  and  ended  with  the  ratification 
of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  New  Hampshire, 
as  the  ninth  state,  on  the  twenty-first  day  of 
June,  1788.  It  embraces  the  Revolutionary 
struggle  with  England,  and  the  subsequent  sur- 
render, by  thirteen  jealous  state  sovereignties, 
to    a   common  central   organization,  of  such  of 


A  INTRODUCTORY. 

their  political  powers  as  were  requisite  for  the 
formation  of  an  efficient  national  government. 

The  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  by 
nine  independent  states  was  the  creation  of  a 
new  nation,  not  by  slow,  successive  develop- 
ments, but  rather  by  a  single  joint  act  of  popular 
power.  By  this  a  new-born  government  sprang 
at  once  into  perfect  existence,  as  had  formerly 
the  fabled  Minerva  from  the  head  of  Jove.  As 
they  witnessed  this  sublime  achievement,  the 
friends  of  human  freedom  might  have  said,  as 
did  Pope  Paul  the  Third  of  the  creation  of  the 
Order  of  Jesus,  "  The  finger  of  God  is  in  it." 

Previous  experience,  during  their  struggle  for 
independence,  had  revealed  to  the  several  states 
the  necessity  of  a  stronger  union  than  that  of 
a  common  interest  or  friendly  sympathy,  and 
secured  to  them  the  Articles  of  Confederation. 
These,  strengthened  by  constant  external  dan- 
ger, answered  in  a  measure  their  purpose  until 
the  advent  of  peace  revealed  their  weakness,  and 
the  necessities  of  an  expanding  nation  demanded 
a  bond  of  greater  strength. 

This  was  found  in  due  time  in  the  Federal 
Constitution,  which  had  been  drafted  by  a  Con- 
vention, assembled  for  the  purpose,  at  Philadel- 


INTRODUCTORY.  6 

phia,  in  May,  1787,1  and  reported  to  congress  on 
the  twenty-eighth  day  of  the  following  Septem- 
ber, which  body,  shortly  after,  referred  the  ques- 
tion of  its  adoption  to  the  people  of  the  several 
states. 

To  detail  New  Hampshire's  part  in  the  ratifi- 
cation of  this  great  instrument  has  been  at- 
tempted in  the  following  pages — a  part  which 
has  given  to  her  a  glory  which  will  never  grow 
dim,  but,  rather,  brighter  and  more  bright,  as 
American  nationality  expands,  and  as  the  great 
principles  which  it  embodies  are  more  extensive- 
ly welcomed  by  other  peoples  in  other  lands. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Journal  of  the 
Federal  Convention  of  New  Hampshire  is  so 
very  brief.  It  records  not  the  proceedings,  but 
the  results  only  of  the  proceedings,  and  gives 
no  idea  whatever  of  the  character  of  the  debates 
which  led  to  them.  Its  two  sessions  occupied  a 
period  of  ten  days  at  Exeter,  and  another  of  four 
days  at  Concord.  Exclusive  of  the  roll  of  mem- 
bers, the  secretary's  record  covers  but  ten  and 

xThe  Federal  Convention  held  The  delegates  from  New  Hamp- 
its  first  session  on  the  fourteenth  shire  were    John    Langdon   of 
day  of  May,  1787,  and  was  dis-  Portsmouth,  and  Nicholas  Gil- 
solved  on  the  seventeenth  day  man  of  Exeter, 
of  September  of  the  same  year. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


one  third  printed  pages  of  the  tenth  volume  of 
the  "New  Hampshire  Provincial  and  State 
Papers.  It  does  not  afford  a  report  of  any  de- 
bate, not  even  of  a  single  speech  or  the  sub- 
stance of  one.  In  fact,  in  all  his  searchings,  the 
writer  has  discovered  an  authentic  report  of  but 
one  speech  made  in  the  Convention,  viz.,  that  of 
Governor  Sullivan  upon  the  subject  of  the  juris- 
diction of  the  federal  courts,  which  Mr.  Thomas 
C.  Amory  has  quoted  from  the  Freeman's  Ora- 
cle of  March  7,  1788,  in  his  valuable  life  of  that 
gentleman.1  There  is  reason  to  suppose  that  the 
speech  attributed  to  Col.  Ebenezer  Webster  was 
written  out  from  tradition,  by  a  hand  other  than 
his  own,  long  after  the  Convention.  The  same 
may  perhaps  be  true  of  the  one  credited  to  Hon. 
Joshua  Atherton,  upon  the  subject  of  slavery, 
which  was  printed  by  George  Barstow,  in  his 
History  of  ]Sew  Hampshire,  in  1842.  In  his 
memoir  of  his  father,  Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton 
remarks  that  it  may  have  been  published  at  the 
time  in  Melcher's  New  Hampshire  Gazette;  but 
an  examination  of  the  file  of  that  paper  for  1788 
has  not  revealed  it.  So  far  as  the  author  of  this 
chapter  knows,  it  appeared  for  the  first  time  in 

iLife  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  pp.  230  and  231. 


INTRODUCTORY.  5 

print  in  the  New  Hampshire  Statesman  for  July 
7,  1827. 

If  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
vention be  sought  in  the  New  Hampshire  news- 
papers of  the  time,  it  will  be  found  that  these, 
few  in  number  and  of  limited  dimensions,  con- 
tain but  little  of  the  information  sought.  Yet 
something  may  be  gleaned  from  them  regarding 
the  state  of  public  opinion  among  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  the  state.  The  New 
Hampshire  Gazette  contains  a  series  of  articles 
in  which  "  Fabius  "  ably  discusses  the  merits  of 
the  proposed  Constitution.  The  student  of  the 
Convention  will  find  the  Massachusetts  papers 
quite  as  helpful  as  those  of  our  own  state.  From 
biographical  notices  of  members,  and  from  town 
and  other  histories,  facts  may  often  be  gleaned 
of  much  importance.  In  short,  the  materials  for 
a  satisfactory  account  of  this  memorable  assem- 
bly are  to  be  obtained  only  by  much  research. 
They  will  often  be  found  where  least  expected, 
and  are  by  no  means  abundant. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  COXVEXTION. 

Names  of  Delegates  from  the  several  towns  and 
places.  Biographical  Sketches  of  prominent 
members. 

The  New  Hampshire  Convention,  "  for  the 
Investigation,  Discussion,  and  Decision  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,"  assembled  at  the  court- 
house, in  Exeter,  on  Wednesday,  the  thirteenth 
day  of  February,  A.  D.  1788. 

The  population  of  the  state  at  that  time  num- 
bered about  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  thou- 
sand.1 One  hundred  and  thirteen  delegates  were 
returned  to  the  Convention  from  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  towns  and  places.  It  appears 
by  the  Journal  that  one  of  these,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Ladd,  of  Epping,  never  took  his  seat;  and  that 
Haverhill,    Piermont,  Warren,    Coventry,   Lin- 

1  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  3,  p.  236. 


MEMBERS.  7 

coin,  and  Franconia  were  unrepresented  at  the 
first  session,  and  Lee,  Peterborough,  Society 
Land,  Hancock,  Antrim,  Deering,  and  Hinsdale 
at  the  second. 

Each  town  was  usually  represented  by  one 
delegate.  Portsmouth,  however,  sent  three  and 
Londonderry  two,  while  in  some  instances  sev- 
eral small  towns  or  places  joined  and  sent  but 
one,  as  in  the  case  of  Holderness,  Campion,  and 
Thornton,  represented  by  Judge  Samuel  Liver- 
more. 

The  names  of  these  towns  and  places,  and  of 
their  delegates  as  shown  by  the  Journal  of  the 
Convention,  were  as  follows: 


Names  of  towns  and  places  Names  of  delegates  to  the  Vote  of  each  on 

represented.  Convention.  Ratification. 

Portsmouth,  John  Langdon,  Esqr.i  y. 


1  John  Langdon,  Esq.,  one  of  and    speaker   of  the   house    of 

New  Hampshire's  most  distin-  representatives,  N.  H.,  1776  and 

guished    citizens,  was  born   in  1777 ;  he  forwarded  the  expedi- 

Portsmouth,  1740 ;  son  of  John  tion,  under  Gen.   Stark,  to  cut 

L.     and    grandson    of    Tobias  off    Burgoyne's    march,    1777 ; 

Langdon.     He  was  one  of  the  judge  of  the  court  of  common 

party  which  seized  Fort  William  pleas  ;  in  1779  he  was  continen- 

and  Mary,  at  New  Castle,  1774,  tal  agent  in  New  Hampshire  for 

and   carried   away  the   powder  building   of  public  ships ;    and 

and  military  stores ;  a  delegate  again   delegate   to   congress   in 

to  the  Continental  Congress  in  1783.     In    1784-85    he    was   a 

1775  and  1776 ;    representative  member  of  the  N.  H.  senate,  and 


8 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 

Portsmouth, 
« 

Exeter, 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


John  Pickering,  Esq1'.1  y. 

Pierce  Long,  Esq1'.  v. 

John  Taylor  Gilman,  Esqr.2       y. 


in  the  latter  year  was  president 
of  the  state,  and  in  November, 
1788,  was  elected  senator  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  the  first 
president  pro  tern,  of  that  body 
under  the  Federal  Constitution. 
He  was  senator  two  terms. 
From  1805  to  1808,  and  again  in 
1810,  he  was  governor  of  the 
state.  Governor  Langdon  was 
eminent  for  his  personal  digni- 
ty, his  patriotism,  his  capacity 
for  offices  of  high  honor  and 
trust,  and  for  his  religious  rev- 
erence and  devotion.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  first  church  in 
Portsmouth.  An  excellent  por- 
trait of  him  is  in  the  council- 
chamber  of  the  state.  He  died 
Sept.  18,  1819,  aged  78.  —  Prov. 
and  State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  8. 

1  John  Pickering,  Esq.,  was  a 
native  of  Newington ;  graduated 
at  Harvard  college  in  1761,  and 
having  devoted  some  time  to 
theological  studies,  was  offered 
the  rectorship  of  an  Episcopal 
church  in  England.  He  declin- 
ed, and  applied  himself  to  the 
study  of  the  law,  in  which  he 
became  eminent.    He  was  attor- 


ney-general, 1786  ;  was  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Convention, 
1791-2  ;  repeatedly  a  member  of 
the  legislature ;  president  of  the 
senate  in  1789 ;  and  governor, 
ex  officio,  of  the  state,  on  the 
election  of  Governor  John  Lang- 
don to  the  senate  of  the  United 
States.  In  1790  he  was  appoint- 
ed chief-justice  of  the  superior 
court,  which  office  he  held  five 
years.  He  was  afterwards  dis- 
trict judge  of  the  United  States. 
He  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
from  Harvard  and  Dartmouth 
colleges.  He  died  April  11, 
1805,  aged  67.  —  Proc  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  30. 

2  John  Taylor  Gilman,  Esq ,  of 
Exeter,  was  the  son  of  Nicholas 
Gilman,  who  married  Aim  Tay- 
lor, a  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Taylor,  of  Milton,  Mass.  He 
was  born  Dec.  19,  1753.  With 
only  the  advantages  of  a  com- 
mon academic  education,  he  rose 
to  distinction  in  all  the  public 
offices  of  the  state.  The  morn- 
ing after  the  news  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington,  he  marched  as  a 
volunteer  with  a  hundred  others 


MEMBERS. 

y 

Names  of  towns  and  plac 

es            Names  of  delegates  to  the 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

Convention. 

Ratification. 

Londonderry, 

Col0  Daniel  Runnels, 

n. 

u 

Archibd  McMurphy,  Esqr. 

i). 

Chester, 

Mr.  Joseph  Blanchard, 

y- 

Newington, 

Benjamin  Adams,  Esq1'. 

y- 

Greenland, 

Dr.  Ichabod  Weeks, 

y- 

Rye, 

Mr.  Nathan  Goss, 

y- 

New  Castle, 

Henry  Prescutt,  Esqr. 

y- 

North  Hampton, 

Revd  Benja.  Thurston,1 

y- 

Hampton, 

Christopher  Toppan,  Esq1' 

y- 

Hampton  Falls 

&  Seabrook, 

Revd  Sam1.  Langclon,2 

y- 

Stratham, 

Mr.  Jona  Wiggin, 

y- 

Kensington, 

Jeremiah  Fogg,  Esq1'. 

y- 

to  Cambridge.  In  1782  he  was 
a  member  of  congress ;  in  1783, 
treasurer  of  the  state,  and  again 
in  1791-93.  He  filled  the  office 
of  governor  from  179-1  to  1805 ; 
was  again  elected  in  1813,  1814, 
and  1815.  His  long  and  use- 
ful services  were  gratefully  ac- 
knowledged by  the  legislature 
in  a  farewell  address.  Political- 
ly he  wask  nown  as  a  Federalist. 
He  died  in  Exeter,  September, 
1828,  aged  74.  —  Prov .  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

aRev.  Benjamin  Thurston  was 
the  fourth  pastor  of  the  church 
of  North  Hampton.  He  was 
born  at  Bradford,  Mass.,  in  1750, 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  col- 
lege in  1774.     He  was  ordained 


November  2,  1785,  and  contin- 
ued his  pastorate  of  this  church 
about  fifteen  years,  at  the  expi- 
ration of  which  period  he  re- 
signed the  position,  and  was  dis- 
missed October  27, 1800.  He  is 
said  to  have  died  near  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  about  1804. 

2  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,  D.  D., 
of  Hampton  Falls,  was  first  set- 
tied  over  the  North  church  at 
Portsmouth,  twenty-seven  years. 
He  was  afterwards  elected  to  the 
office  of  president  of  Harvard 
college,  which  he  held  from  1774 
to  1780.  Eminent  for  learn- 
ing, patriotism,  and  piety,  he 
deceased  Nov.  29,  1797,  aged 
75. — Prov.  and  State  Papers, 
vol.  x,  p.  9. 


10 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


S.  Hampton  & 

East  Kingstown,  Mr.  Benja  Clongh,  n. 

Kingstown,  Hon1  Josiah  Bartlett,  Esqr.i  y. 

Brentwood,  Doc*.  Thomas  Stow  Ranney,  y. 

Epping,  Mr.  Nath1  Ladd, 

New  Market,  Nath1  Rogers,  Esq1-.  y. 

Nottingham,  Thos.  Bartlett,  Esq1'. 2  y. 


1  Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett,  Esq., 
takes  rank  with  the  most  emi- 
nent of  New  Hampshire's  sons. 
He  was  born  in  Amesbury,  Mass., 
in  1729, — son  of  Stephen  Bart- 
lett. In  his  profession  of  med- 
icine he  acquired  distinction, 
but  was  called  from  a  successful 
practice  to  fill  offices  of  trust 
and  honor  in  the  state  and  in 
the  national  congress.  He  was 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  July, 
1776  ;  chief-justice  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  (N.  H.)  1779; 
justice  of  the  superior  court, 
1784, — chief-justice  in  1788.  In 
1790  he  was  chosen  by  the  leg- 
islature president  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  in  1791  he  was  elect- 
ed to  the  same  office  by  the  peo- 
ple ;  and,  under  the  revised  con- 
stitution, he  was  chosen  gov- 
ernor, 1792.  He  was  the  chief 
original  founder  and  president 
of  the  Xew  Hampshire  Medical 
Society,  1791.     He  died  May  19, 


1795,  aged  65. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

2  Thomas  Bartlett,  Esq.,  of 
Nottingham,  was  among  the 
leading  patriots  of  Rockingham 
county.  Aside  from  offices  of 
minor  grade,  he  was  captain  of 
the  5th  company  of  "  six  weeks 
men "  at  Winter  Hill  in  1775 ; 
lieutenant-colonel  in  Col.  Gil- 
man's  regiment  at  Rhode  Is- 
land in  1778 ;  from  May,  1778, 
to  January,  1779,  a  member  of 
l^he  Committee  of  Safety;  colo- 
nel of  one  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire regiments  for  the  defence 
of  West  Point  in  1780.  Under 
the  law  of  1792  he  was  made 
brigadier-general  of  the  third 
brigade  of  New  Hampshire 
militia.  He  was  representative 
to  the  fourth  Provincial  Con- 
gress, at  Exeter,  May,  1775,  and 
one  of  the  committee  to  remove 
the  public  records  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Exeter,  in  June,  1775. 


MEMBERS. 


11 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


Deerfield,  Doc*.  Eclmd  Chadwick, 

North  wood,  Epsom 

&  Allenstown,     Majr.  James  Gray, 

Chichester  & 
'  Pittsfield, 

Canterbury, 

Northfield, 

Loudon, 

Concord, 

Pembroke, 

Candia, 

Raymond  & 
Poplin,1 

Hawke2  &  San- 
down, 

Hampstead, 


Benja  Sias,  Esqr. 
Col0  Jere.  Clough, 
Mr.  Charles  Glidden, 
Mr.  Jona  Smith, 
Cap*.  Benja  Emery, 
Samuel  Daniels,  Esqr. 
Mr.  Stephen  Fifield, 

Mr.  Thomas  Chase, 

Mr.  Nehemiah  Sleeper, 
John  Calfe,  Esq1-.3 


n. 
n. 

J- 

n. 

n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 

y- 


After  the  Revolution  he  was 
speaker  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives and  justice  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas.  He 
died  June  30,  1807,  aged  59. 
— Prov.  and  State  Papers,  vol. 
10,  p.  9. 

1  Fremont. 

2  Danville. 

3  John  Calfe  was,  in  some  re- 
spects, a  very  remarkable  man. 
Few  were  so  generally  known 
throughout  the  state,  and  no 
one  was  more  highly  esteemed. 
He  was  born  at  Newbury,  Mass., 
on  the  13th  of  June,  1711.     He 


removed  to  Hampstead  in  1762. 
The  next  year  he  became  a 
member  of  the  church,  and  ten 
years  later  was  elected  a  deacon. 
He  was  an  under  officer  in  one 
of  the  French  and  Indian  wars, 
and  was  in  active  service  about 
Lake  Champlain.  At  a  later 
period  he  was  a  captain  and 
subsequently  a  major  in  the 
army  of  the  Revolution.  From 
May  28,  1778,  to  June  5,  1779, 
and  from  Jan.  22,  1780,  to  May 
28,  1784,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Convention  called  to  con- 


12 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 

Atkinson  & 

Plastow, 
Salem, 
Newtown, 
Wyndham, 
Pelham, 
Dover, 
Durham, 


Names  of  delegates  to  Vote  of  each  on 

the  Convention.  Ratification. 


Col0.  Benja  Stone,  n 

IA  Thomas  Dow,  n 

Cap*.  Robert  Steward,  n 

James  Bettan,  Esq1'.  y 

Revd  Amos  Moody,  y 

Doc*.  Ezra  Green,1  y 
Excy  John  Sullivan,  Esq1.2         y 


sider  the  ratification  of  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,  and  in  1791- 
92  held  the  same  office  in  the 
convention  for  the  revision  of 
the  state  constitution.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  for  the  county  of  Rocking- 
ham, and  for  a  like  period  was 
clerk  of  the  New  Hampshire 
house  of  representatives.  He 
was  emphatically  a  man  of  the 
people.  He  was  honest,  capa- 
ble, and  judicious.  An  old  wri- 
ter has  remarked  that  "no  man 
more  sacredly  regarded  the  will 
of  the  people  than  he."  He  died 
at  Hampstead,  October  30, 1808, 
aged  67. — Compiled  from  F.  and 
Moore's  Hist.  Col. 

*Dr.  Ezra  Green,  of  Dover, 
was  born  in  Maiden,  Mass.; 
graduated  at  Harvard  college, 
1765;  joined  the  army  under 
Col.  James  Reed,  1775;  in  June 


of  that  year  was  appointed 
surgeon,  and  served  on  land  till 
April,  1778.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed surgeon  on  board  the 
ship  Ranger,  under  command  of 
Capt.  John  Paul  Jones.  Retir- 
ing from  service  in  1781,  he  set- 
tled at  Dover  as  a  merchant. 
He  died,  greatly  respected,  July 
25,  1847,  aged  101.— Prov.  and 
State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

2  His  Excellency  John  Sulli- 
van, Esq.,  president  of  the  Con- 
vention, was  the  son  of  John 
Sullivan,  and  was  born  in  Dover, 
in  that  part  called  Somers- 
worth,  in  1741.  He  was  a  broth- 
er of  His  Excellency  James  Sul- 
livan, of  Massachusetts.  Both 
received  their  education  from 
their  father.  John  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  at  Durham, 
where  he  continued  his  residence 
till  his  death,  and  where  his  re- 
mains  are   interred.     He  earlv 


MEMBERS. 

16 

Names  of  towns  and  places               Names  of  delegates  to 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

the  Convention. 

Ratification. 

Sommersworth, 

Moses  Carr,  Esq1-. 

y- 

Rochester, 

Mr.  Barnabas  Palmer, 

n. 

Barrington, 

Maj1'  Samuel  Hale, 

y- 

Sandborntown, 

William  Harper,  Esqr. 

n. 

Gilmaiitown, 

Honb1  Joseph  Badger,1 

n. 

evinced  a  military  spirit,  and 
was  one  of  the  brave  band  that 
seized  Fort  William  and  Mary  at 
New  Castle,  1774;  was  delegate 
to  congress  1774-75,  and  in  the 
latter  year  was  appointed  brig- 
adier-general in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution,  and  in  1779  major- 
general.  He  was  in  command 
at  Winter  Hill,  1775 ;  in  Can- 
ada, 1776;  distinguished  in  the 
battles  of  Brandywine  and  Ger- 
mantown,  1777  ;  commanded  the 
army  in  Rhode  Island,  1778 ; 
and  was  at  the  head  of  the  ex- 
pedition against  the  western  In- 
dians in  1779.  Filling  numer- 
ous offices  in  the  state  as  agent 
to  settle  the  disputed  bounds 
of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants, 
attorney-general,  etc.,  in  1786 
and  1787  he  was  chosen  pres- 
ident of  New  Hampshire.  In 
1789  he  was  a  presidential  elec- 
tor, and  again  that  year  chosen 
president  of  the  state.  He  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  district 
court  of  New  Hampshire  by 
Washington,  1789,  which  office 
he  held  till  his  death,  Jan.  23, 


1795,  at  the  age  of  54.  See  an 
admirable  portrait  of  him  in 
the  council-chamber,  Concord, 
painted  from  a  sketch  by  Col. 
Trumbull.  —  Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 

1  Hon.  Joseph  Badger,  Esq., 
son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Badger,  an 
early  settler  in  Gilmanton,  was 
born  in  Bradford,  Mass.,  Oct. 
23, 1746.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
military  ardor,  and  held  offices 
in  the  militia  for  thirty  years, 
passing  from  the  rank  of  captain 
to  that  of  brigadier-general.  He 
was  present  at  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne  in  1779.  After  the 
war  he  served  the  town  of  Gil- 
manton as  representative,  and 
was  a  councillor  six  years, — 
1784, 1790-92, 1795-96.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Gilman- 
ton academy,  gave  the  land  on 
which  it  is  located,  and  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing. He  died  Jan.  15,  1809,  aged 
62.  The  late  Governor  William 
Badger  was  his  son. — Prov.  and 
State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 


14 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Cap1  Reuben  Hill, 
Revd  William  Hooper,1 


Lee, 

Madbury, 
Merrideth  & 

New  Hampton,  Col0.  Ebenr.  Smith, 
Sandwich  & 

Tamworth,  Daniel  Bedee,  Esqr. 

Moultonboro', 

Tuftonborough, 

Wolfboro'  & 

Ossipee,  Mr.  Nath1.  Shannon, 

Barnstead, 

New  Durham  & 

N.  D.  Gore,         Mr.  Jona.  Chesley, 
Wakefield, 

Middletown  & 

Effingham,  Mr.  Nicholas  Austin, 

Conway, 

Eaton, 

Burton2  & 

Locations,  David  Page,  Esqr. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


n. 


n. 


n. 


1  Rev.  William  Hooper  was 
born  in  Berwick,  Maine,  where 
lie  was  ordained  as  a  Calvin ist 
Baptist  minister  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  August,  1776.  On 
the  day  of  his  ordination  he 
baptized  Benjamin  Randall,  af- 
terwards the  founder  of  the 
Freewill  Baptist  denomination 
in  New  Hampshire.  He  remov- 
ed to  Madbury,  where  he  was 
highly  esteemed  as  a  man  and  a 
preacher.    He  had  a  small  farm, 


which,  with  shoemaking,  occu- 
pied his  leisure  time.  For  twen- 
ty-five years  he  was  the  secre- 
tary of  the  New  Hampshire  Bap- 
tist Association,  He  was  a  man 
of  middling  size,  vigorous  con- 
stitution, strong  mind,  retentive 
memory,  great  decision  of  char- 
acter, and  inflexible  integrity. 
He  died  in  Madbury  in  1837. — 
Compiled  from  Plumer  Papers. 

2  Albany. 


MEMBERS. 


15 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Nottingham  West/Mr.  Ebenr  Cummings, 


Litchfield, 

Derryfield,2 

Dunstable, 

Merrimac, 

Bedford, 

Goffstown, 

Holies, 

Amherst, 

Kaby3  &  Mason, 

New  Ipswich, 


Mr.  Daniel  Bixby, 
Lieu*.  John  Hall, 
Deacu  Wm.  Hunt, 
Timothy  Taylor,  Esqr. 
Mr.  Stephen  Dole, 
Mr.  William  Page, 
Cap*.  Daniel  Kindrick, 
Joshua  Atherton,  Esqr.4 
Deac"  Amos  Dakin, 
Cap1.  Charles  Barrett,5 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 

11. 
11. 

y- 

n. 

n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 

y- 

n. 


1  Hudson. 

2  Manchester. 
8  Brookline. 

4  Hon.  Joshua  Atherton  was 
born  in  Harvard,  Massachusetts, 
June  20,  1737 ;  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  college,  1762  ;  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law  in 
Amherst,  1772  ;  was  father  of 
Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton  and 
grandfather  of  Hon.  Charles  G. 
Atherton,  both  distinguished  as 
lawyers  and  civilians.  In  the 
Revolution,  Mr.  Atherton  at 
first  favored  the  loyalists,  and 
for  a  time  was  imprisoned  in 
Amherst  jail,  but  subsequently 
regained  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow-citizens;  was  a  member 
of  the  Convention  that  adopted 
the  Federal  Constitution,  1788, 
state  senator,  1793,  and  attor- 
ney-general of  the  state  1793- 
1801.  He  died  in  Amherst,  April 


3, 1809,  aged  71. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  35. 

5  Capt.  Charles  Barrett  was 
born  in  1740,  and  for  many  years 
was  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
citizens  of  New  Ipswich.  Dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  period  his 
loyalty  to  the  patriot  cause  was 
for  a  time  in  doubt,  but  he  re- 
gained public  confidence,  and 
was  repeatedly  honored  by  his 
fellow-citizens  with  important 
public  offices.  He  was  a  state 
senator  in  1791,  1793,  and  1794, 
and  at  different  times  a  repre- 
sentative and  a  councillor.  He 
with  associates  erected  the  first 
cotton  factory  built  in  New 
Hampshire.  On  a  plan  of  his 
own  he  constructed  a  canal  in 
the  midst  of  George's  river, 
hoping  thereby  to  render  prac- 
ticable the  passage  of  boats 
from  tide  water  to  the  town — an 


lb 

MEMBERS. 

Names  of  towns  and  places 

Names  of  delegates  to  the 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

Convention. 

Ratification. 

Francestown, 

Mr.  Thomas  Bixby, 

n. 

Wilton, 

Mr.  William  Abbott, 

y- 

Lyndeborough, 

Doc*.  Benja  Jones, 

n. 

Temple  & 

Peterbor0  Slip, 

Deac11  John  Cragin, 

n. 

Peterbor0  & 

Society  Land, 

Maf.  Nathan  Dix, 

Hancock,  Antrim 

&  Deering, 

Mr.  Evan  Dow, 

Hinnekar  & 

Hillsborough, 

Mr.  Robert  B.  Wilkins,1 

y- 

New  Boston, 

John  Cochran,  Esq1'. 

n. 

Weare, 

Mr.  Jonathan  Dow, 

n. 

Hopkinton, 

Mr.  Joshua  Morss, 

y- 

Dunbarton  &  Bow, 

Mr.  Jacob  Green, 

n. 

enterprise  which  proved  unsuc- 
cessful. He  was  a  large  owner  of 
wild  lands  in  Maine,  and  made 
many  efforts  for  their  occupancy 
and  improvement.  He  was  an 
impulsive  man,  and  possessed 
great  energy.  He  had  but  a 
limited  education,  yet  his  untir- 
ing activity  and  business  expe- 
rience suplied  in  part  this  want. 
Few  persons,  if  any,  appreciated 
more  fully  the  value  of  early 
mental  training,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  New  Ips- 
wich academy.  He  died  Dec. 
21,  1808.— Compiled  from  Histo- 
ry of  New  Ipswich. 

xMr.  Robert  B.  Wilkins,   of 


Henniker,  a  native  of  Amherst, 
entered  the  army  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill — wounded ;  in  the 
Continental  army,  in  Col.  Scam- 
mel's  regiment,  he  was  promo- 
ted to  a  lieutenancy.  He  served 
under  Gen.  Lafayette,  of  whom 
he  was  a  great  admirer.  On  his 
visit  to  Concord,  in  June,  1825, 
the  general  met  Lieut.  Wilkins 
and  recognized  him.  Receiving 
a  pension  from  the  government, 
he  spent  the  later  years  of  his 
life  with  his  family  in  Concord, 
but  died  in  Boston,  August, 
1832,  aged  77. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 


THE 


N.  H.  Federal  Convention, 
i  788. 


THE    OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


Itrtjr  of  %  jftbwal  Constitution. 


A     HISTORY 


No»    $am;pst)irt    QTouomtion 

FOR  THE  INVESTIGATION,  DISCUSSION,  AND  DECISION 

OF   THE 

FEDERAL    CONSTITUTION: 


AND    OP   THE 


Old   Hoi^h   (Qeejfing-]?ouse 

OF    CONCORD, 

In  which  it  was  Ratified  by  the  Ninth  State,  and  thus 

Rendered  Operative,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  on 

Saturday,  the  2ist  day  of  June, 

1788. 

BY   JOSEPH    B.   WALKER. 


And  sovereign  law,  that  state's  collected  will, 

O'er  thrones  and  globes  elate, 
Sits  empress,  crowning  good,  repressing  ill. 

— Sir  William  Jones. 


BOSTON : 


Copyright : 
By  JOSEPH    B.  WALKER 


eW CONCORD,  N.  H 


TO   THE 

HONORABLE   GEORGE  W.   NESMITH,   LL.D. 

FOR    SIXTY-THREE    YEARS    A     MEMBER    OK 

THE   NEW   HAMPSHIRE    BAR, 

AND    A    LIFE-LONG    FRIEND    OF    THE 

GREAT  EXPOUNDER 

OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

THE     FOLLOWING     ACCOUNT    OF    THE 

N.    H.    FEDERAL   CONVENTION 

IS    MOST     RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED 

BY     HIS    SINCERE    FRIEND, 

JOSEPH   B.   WALKER. 

Concord,  N.  H.,  Nov.  i,  iSSS. 


PREFACE. 


An  interest  awakened  by  the  centennial  anniversary 
of  the  ratification  by  New  Hampshire  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  prompted  the  preparation  of 
this  account  of  our  Federal  Convention.1 

Two  facts  render  its  proceedings  particularly  memo- 
rable, viz., — 

1.  In  our  Convention  ratification  received  its  first  check. 
A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  former  policy  of  British 
rule  under  the  Georges,  and  of  the  selfish  administra- 
tions of  their  provincial  governors,  had  rendered  our 
forefathers  cautious,  when  asked  to  surrender  to  a 
superior  central  power  a  portion  of  the  rights  which 
they  had  acquired  by  a  profuse  expenditure  of  blood 
and  treasure.  Moreover,  the  public  sentiment  of  the 
state  was  averse  to  slavery,2  gradually  dying  out  within 
its  own  limits,  and  any  national  provision  conservative 
of  that  institution  did  not  command  a  wide  approval. 
Then,  too,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire  were,  at 


1  The  New  Hampshire  Histor- 
ical Society  celebrated  this  an- 
niversary at  Concord,  on  the 
21st  day  of  June,  1888,  by  an 
address  by  Hon.  James  W.  Pat- 
terson, at  the  Opera  House,  in 
the  forenoon,  which  was  follow- 
ed in  the  afternoon  by  a  dinner 


and  appropriate  post-prandial 
speeches,  many  of  which  were 
made  by  distinguished  guests 
of  the  society  from  other  states. 

2  Slavery  died  a  natural  death 
in  New  Hampshire.  It  was  nev- 
er formally  abolished  by  statute. 


Vlll  PEEP  ACE. 

this  time,  almost  wholly  an  agricultural  people.  Its 
short  coast  line  afforded  but  one  harbor,  and  its  impor- 
tant water-powers  were  still  unimproved.  Its  "virgin 
soil  yielded  to  its  hardy  occupants  a  satisfactory  sup- 
port, and  these  felt  but  little  the  need  of  a  stronger 
general  government. 

2.  But  for  this  check  New  Hampshire  would  have  been 
the  seventh  state  to  ratify  the  Federal  Constitution,  and 
the  honor  of  being  the  ninth  and  thereby  completing  the 
number  required  to  render  operative  its  provisions  would 
have  attached  to  another.  Discouraging  as  this  check 
at  first  proved  to  the  Federalists  throughout  the  coun- 
try, it  afterwards  secured  to  New  Hampshire  a  distinc- 
tion which  but  one  only  of  the  thirteen  states  could 
possibly  enjoy — a  distinction  which  the  citizens  of  New 
Hampshire  ought  always  to  appreciate  and  never  under- 
value. 

Of  the  fact  that  the  history  of  our  Federal  Conven- 
tion is  worthy  of  a  more  exhaustive  examination  than 
any  which  it  has  yet  received,  no  one  is  more  fully 
aware  than  the  author  of  this  volume.  If  its  publication 
shall  contribute  in  any  degree  to  the  attainment  of  this 
end,  the  most  important  object  of  its  issue  will  have 
been  accomplished. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  grandest  period  of  American  history. — A  new  nation. — Need 
of  a  stronger  government. — Brevity  of  the  Journal  of  the  Con- 
vention.— Few  reports  of  speeches  of  members  preserved. 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE    MEMBERS    OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

Names  of  delegates  from  the  several  towns  and  places. — Biograph- 
ical sketches  of  prominent  members. 

CHAPTER   III. 

FIRST    SESSION   OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

Examination  and  discussion  of  the  Constitution.  —  Ratification 
found  impossible. — Adjournment  to  a  future  day  proposed, 
opposed,  and  carried. 

CHAPTER   IV. 

DURING    THE    INTERIM. 

Friends  of  the  Constitution  at  first  disappointed  by  the  adjourn- 
ment.— Progress  of  ratification  in  other  states. — Efforts  of  the 
Federalists  during  the  recess. 

CHAPTER  V. 

SECOND    SESSION    OF    THE    CONVENTION. 

General  interest  in  its  proceedings. — First  and  second  days. — Ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  to  propose  amendments.  —  Mr. 
Atherton's   motion   to  ratify  conditionally  defeated. — Judge 


X  CONTEXTS. 

Livermore's  motion. — Motion  to  adjourn  defeated. — The  main 
question  put. — The  final  vote. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

CLOSING   WORK   OF   THE   CONVENTION. 

The  formal  announcement  to  Congress  of  its  action  by  the  Con- 
vention.— The  leaders  of  the  two  parties. 

CHAPTER   VII. 

EFFECTS    OF    THE    NEWS    OF    RATIFICATION   BY   THE   NINTH    STATE. 

Celebrations  and  rejoicings  at  Portsmouth,  Boston,  Salem,  Provi- 
dence, Newport,  and  elsewhere. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE    OLD   NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE    OF    CONCORD. 

Frame. — Raising. — Dimensions. — Location. —  Seats. —  Proprietors. 
Bow  controversy. — Completion. —  Pews. —  Pidpit. — Gallery. — 
Singing-seats. — Horse-block. — Sale  of  pews. 

CHAPTER   IX. 

THE    OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE — CONCLUDED. 

Enlargement. — Bell. — First  bell-ringer. — Toleration  Act. — Sale  of 
town's  interest  in  the  house  and  bell. — Remodelling  of  pews. 
— Occupancy  by  the  New  Hampshire  Constitutional  Conven- 
tions of  1778,  1781,  and  1791,  and  by  the  General  Court  in 
1782  and  subsequently.  —  Introduction  of  stoves.  —  Election 
sermons. —  Its  abandonment  as  a  house  of  worship,  and  its 
conversion  to  a  Methodist  theological  seminary. — Its  destruc- 
tion by  fire. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 


Fac-simile  of  the  Heading  of  the  account 
in  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette  of  the 
Celebration  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  26th 
day  of  June,  1788,  of  the  Ratification 
of  the  Constitution 

Old  North  Meeting-House 

Pulpit 

Horse-Block 

Plan  of  Gallery 

Plan  of  First  Floor  . 


56 
65 

74 
79 
84 
92 


CHAPTER    I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  grandest  period  of  American  history.  A. 
new  nation.  Need  of  a  stronger  government. 
Brevity  of  the  Journal  of  the  Convention. 
Few  reports  of  speeches  of  members  preserved. 

The  grandest  period  in  American  history  is, 
perhaps,  all  thing's  considered,  that  during  which 
the  thirteen  colonies  raised  themselves  from  a 
condition  of  royal  dependence  to  that  of  a  sta- 
ble nationality.  It  began  with  the  assembling 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  fifth  day  of 
September,  1774,  and  ended  with  the  ratification 
of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  New  Hampshire, 
as  the  ninth  state,  on  the  twenty-first  day  of 
June,  1788.  It  embraces  the  Revolutionary 
struggle  with  England,  and  the  subsequent  sur- 
render, by  thirteen  jealous  state  sovereignties, 
to    a   common  central   organization,  of  such  of 


Z  INTRODUCTORY. 

their  political  powers  as  were  requisite  for  the 
formation  of  an  efficient  national  government. 

The  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  by 
nine  independent  states  was  the  creation  of  a 
new  nation,  not  by  slow,  successive  develop- 
ments, but  rather  by  a  single  joint  act  of  popular 
power.  By  this  a  new-born  government  sprang 
at  once  into  perfect  existence,  as  had  formerly 
the  fabled  Minerva  from  the  head  of  Jove.  As 
they  witnessed  this  sublime  achievement,  the 
friends  of  human  freedom  might  have  said,  as 
did  Pope  Paul  the  Third  of  the  creation  of  the 
Order  of  Jesus,  "  The  finger  of  God  is  in  it." 

Previous  experience,  during  their  struggle  for 
independence,  had  revealed  to  the  several  states 
the  necessity  of  a  stronger  union  than  that  of 
a  common  interest  or  friendly  sympathy,  and 
secured  to  them  the  Articles  of  Confederation. 
These,  strengthened  by  constant  external  dan- 
ger, answered  in  a  measure  their  purpose  until 
the  advent  of  peace  revealed  their  weakness,  and 
the  necessities  of  an  expanding  nation  demanded 
a  bond  of  greater  strength. 

This  was  found  in  due  time  in  the  Federal 
Constitution,  which  had  been  drafted  by  a  Con- 
vention, assembled  for  the  purpose,  at  Philadel- 


INTRODUCTORY.  3 

phia,  in  May,  1787,1  and  reported  to  congress  on 
the  twenty-eighth  day  of  the  following  Septem- 
ber, which  body,  shortly  after,  referred  the  ques- 
tion of  its  adoption  to  the  people  of  the  several 
states. 

To  detail  New  Hampshire's  part  in  the  ratifi- 
cation of  this  great  instrument  has  been  at- 
tempted in  the  following  pages — a  part  which 
has  given  to  her  a  glory  which  will  never  grow 
dim,  but,  rather,  brighter  and  more  bright,  as 
American  nationality  expands,  and  as  the  great 
principles  which  it  embodies  are  more  extensive- 
ly welcomed  by  other  peoples  in  other  lands. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Journal  of  the 
Federal  Convention  of  New  Hampshire  is  so 
very  brief.  It  records  not  the  proceedings,  but 
the  results  only  of  the  proceedings,  and  gives 
no  idea  whatever  of  the  character  of  the  debates 
which  led  to  them.  Its  two  sessions  occupied  a 
period  of  ten  days  at  Exeter,  and  another  of  four 
days  at  Concord.  Exclusive  of  the  roll  of  mem- 
bers, the  secretary's  record  covers  but  ten  and 

*The  Federal  Convention  held  The  delegates  from  New  Hamp- 
its  first  session  on  the  fourteenth  shire  were    John    Langdon   of 
day  of  May,  1787,  and  was  dis-  Portsmouth,  and  Nicholas  Gil- 
solved  on  the  seventeenth  day  man  of  Exeter, 
of  September  of  the  same  year. 


4  INTRODUCTORY. 

one  third  printed  pages  of  the  tenth  volume  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Provincial  and  State 
Papers.  It  does  not  afford  a  report  of  any  de- 
bate, not  even  of  a  single  speech  or  the  sub- 
stance of  one.  In  fact,  in  all  his  searchings,  the 
writer  has  discovered  an  authentic  report  of  but 
one  speech  made  in  the  Convention,  viz.,  that  of 
Governor  Sullivan  upon  the  subject  of  the  juris- 
diction of  the  federal  courts,  which  Mr.  Thomas 
C.  Amory  has  quoted  from  the  Freeman's  Ora- 
cle of  March  7,  1788,  in  his  valuable  life  of  that 
gentleman.1  There  is  reason  to  suppose  that  the 
speech  attributed  to  Col.  Ebenezer  Webster  was 
written  out  from  tradition,  by  a  hand  other  than 
his  own,  long  after  the  Convention.  The  same 
may  perhaps  be  true  of  the  one  credited  to  Hon. 
Joshua  Atherton,  upon  the  subject  of  slavery, 
which  was  printed  by  George  Barstow,  in  his 
History  of  Xew  Hampshire,  in  1842.  In  his 
memoir  of  his  father,  Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton 
remarks  that  it  may  have  been  published  at  the 
time  in  Melcher's  JVew  Hampshire  Gazette;  but 
an  examination  of  the  file  of  that  paper  for  1788 
has  not  revealed  it.  So  far  as  the  author  of  this 
chapter  knows,  it  appeared  for  the  first  time  in 

1  Life  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  pp.  230  and  231. 


ESTRODUCTOKY.  I) 

print  in  the  JVeiv  Hampshire  Statesman  for  July 
7,  1827. 

If  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
vention be  sought  in  the  New  Hampshire  dcavs- 
]  tapers  of  the  time,  it  will  be  found  that  these, 
few  in  number  and  of  limited  dimensions,  con- 
tain but  little  of  the  information  sought.  Yet 
something  may  be  gleaned  from  them  regarding 
the  state  of  public  opinion  among  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  the  state.  The  New 
Hampshire  Gazette  contains  a  series  of  articles 
in  which  "  Fabius  "  ably  discusses  the  merits  of 
the  proposed  Constitution.  The  student  of  the 
Convention  will  find  the  Massachusetts  papers 
quite  as  helpful  as  those  of  our  own  state.  From 
biographical  notices  of  members,  and  from  town 
and  other  histories,  facts  may  often  be  gleaned 
of  much  importance.  In  short,  the  materials  for 
a  satisfactory  account  of  this  memorable  assem- 
bly are  to  be  obtained  only  by  much  research. 
They  will  often  be  found  where  least  expected, 
and  are  by  no  means  abundant. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

Names  of  Delegates  from  the  several  toivns  and 
places.  Biographical  Sketches  of  prominent 
members. 

The  JSTew  Hampshire  Convention,  "  for  the 
Investigation,  Discussion,  and  Decision  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,"  assembled  at  the  court- 
house, in  Exeter,  on  Wednesday,  the  thirteenth 
day  of  February,  A.  D.  1788. 

The  population  of  the  state  at  that  time  num- 
bered about  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  thou- 
sand.1 One  hundred  and  thirteen  delegates  were 
returned  to  the  Convention  from  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  towns  and  places.  It  appears 
by  the  Journal  that  one  of  these,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Ladd,  of  Epping,  never  took  his  seat;  and  that 
Haverhill,    Piermont,  Warren,    Coventry,   Lin- 

1  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  3,  p.  236. 


MEMBERS.  i 

coin,  and  Franconia  were  unrepresented  at  the 
first  session,  and  Lee,  Peterborough,  Society 
Land,  Hancock,  Antrim,  Deering,  and  Hinsdale 
at  the  second. 

Each  town  was  usually  represented  by  one 
delegate.  Portsmouth,  however,  sent  three  and 
Londonderry  two,  while  in  some  instances  sev- 
eral small  towns  or  places  joined  and  sent  but 
one,  as  in  the  case  of  Holderness,  Campton,  and 
Thornton,  represented  by  Judge  Samuel  Liver- 
more. 

The  names  of  these  towns  and  places,  and  of 
their  delegates  as  shown  by  the  Journal  of  the 
Convention,  were  as  follows: 

Names  of  towns  and  places  Names  of  delegates  to  the  Vote  of  each  on 

represented.  Convention.  Ratification. 

Portsmouth,  John  Langdon,  Esqr.i  y. 

ijohn  Langdon,  Esq.,  one  of  and    speaker   of  the   house    of 

New  Hampshire's  most  distin-  representatives,  N.  H.,  1776  and 

guished    citizens,  was   born   in  1777 ;  he  forwarded  the  expedi- 

Portsmouth,  17-40 ;  son  of  John  tion,  under  Gen.  Stark,  to  cut 

L.     and    grandson    of    Tobias  off    Burgoyne's    march,    1777  ; 

Langdon.     He  was  one  of  the  judge  of  the  court  of  common 

party  which  seized  Fort  William  pleas  ;  in  1779  he  was  continen- 

and  Mary,  at  New  Castle,  1774,  tal  agent  in  New  Hampshire  for 

and   carried   away  the   powder  building   of  public  ships;   and 

and  military  stores ;  a  delegate  again   delegate   to   congress   in 

to  the  Continental  Congress  in  1783.     In    1784-85    he    was   a 

1775  and   1776  ;    representative  member  of  the  N.  H.  senate,  and 


8 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 

Portsmouth, 


Exeter, 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 

John  Pickering,  Esq1'.1  y. 

Pierce  Long,  Esq1'.  y. 

John  Taylor  Gilman,  Esq1.2       y. 


in  the  latter  year  was  president 
of  the  state,  and  in  November, 
1788,  was  elected  senator  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  the  first 
president  pro  tern,  of  that  body 
under  the  Federal  Constitution. 
He  was  senator  two  terms. 
From  1805  to  1808,  and  again  in 
1810,  he  was  governor  of  the 
state.  Governor  Langdon  was 
eminent  for  his  personal  digni- 
ty, his  patriotism,  his  capacity 
for  offices  of  high  honor  and 
trust,  and  for  his  religious  rev- 
erence and  devotion.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  first  church  in 
Portsmouth.  An  excellent  por- 
trait of  him  is  in  the  council- 
chamber  of  the  state.  He  died 
Sept.  18,  1819,  aged  78.  —  Prov. 
and  State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  8. 

1  John  Pickering,  Esq.,  was  a 
native  of  Newington ;  graduated 
at  Harvard  college  in  1761,  and 
having  devoted  some  time  to 
theological  studies,  was  offered 
the  rectorship  of  an  Episcopal 
church  in  England.  He  declin- 
ed, and  applied  himself  to  the 
study  of  the  law,  in  which  he 
became  eminent.    He  was  attor- 


ney-general, 1786 ;  was  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Convention, 
1791-5 ;  repeatedly  a  member  of 
the  legislature ;  president  of  the 
senate  in  1789;  and  governor, 
ex  officio,  of  the  state,  on  the 
election  of  Governor  John  Lang- 
don to  the  senate  of  the  United 
States.  In  1790  he  was  appoint- 
ed chief-justice  of  the  superior 
court,  which  office  he  held  five 
years.  He  was  afterwards  dis- 
trict judge  of  the  United  States. 
He  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
from  Harvard  and  Dartmouth 
colleges.  He  died  April  11, 
1805,  aged  67.  —  Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  30. 

2  John  Taylor  Gilman,  Esq ,  of 
Exeter,  was  the  son  of  Nicholas 
Gilman,  who  married  Ann  Tay- 
lor, a  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Taylor,  of  Milton,  Mass.  He 
was  born  Dec.  19,  1753.  With 
only  the  advantages  of  a  com- 
mon academic  education,  he  rose 
to  distinction  in  all  the  public 
offices  of  the  state.  The  morn- 
ing after  the  news  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington,  he  marched  as  a 
volunteer  with  a  hundred  others 


MEMBERS. 

y 

Names  of  towns  and  places            Names  of  delegates  to  the 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

Convention. 

Ratification. 

Londonderry, 

Col0  Daniel  Runnels, 

11. 

it 

Archibd  McMurphy,  Esq1-. 

11. 

Chester, 

Mr.  Joseph  Blanchard, 

y. 

Newington, 

Benjamin  Adams,  Esq1'. 

y- 

Greenland, 

Dr.  Ichabod  Weeks, 

y- 

Rye, 

Mr.  Nathan  Goss, 

y- 

New  Castle, 

Henry  Prescutt,  Esq1'. 

y- 

North  Hampton, 

Revd  Benja.  Thurston,* 

y- 

Hampton, 

Christopher  Toppan,  Esqr 

y- 

Hampton  Falls 

&  Seabrook, 

Revd  Sam1.  Langdon,2 

y- 

Stratham, 

Mr.  Jona  Wiggin, 

y- 

Kensington, 

Jeremiah  Fogg,  Esq1'. 

y- 

to  Cambridge.  In  1782  he  was 
a  member  of  congress;  in  ITS:}, 
treasurer  of  the  state,  and  again 
in  1701-93.  He  filled  the  office 
of  governor  from  1794  to  1805  ; 
was  again  elected  in  1813,  181-4, 
and  1815.  His  long  and  use- 
ful services  were  gratefully  ac- 
knowledged by  the  legislature 
in  a  farewell  address.  Political- 
ly he  wask  nown  as  a  Federalist. 
He  died  in  Exeter,  September, 
1828,  aged  74.  —  Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

1Rev.  Benjamin  Thurston  was 
the  fourth  pastor  of  the  church 
of  North  Hampton.  He  was 
born  at  Bradford,  Mass.,  in  1750, 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  col- 
lege in  1774.     He  was  ordained 


November  2,  1785,  and  contin- 
ued his  pastorate  of  this  church 
about  fifteen  years,  at  the  expi- 
ration of  which  period  he  re- 
signed the  position,  and  was  dis- 
missed October  27, 1800.  He  is 
said  to  have  died  near  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  about  1804. 

2  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,  D.  D., 
of  Hampton  Falls,  was  first  set- 
tied  over  the  North  church  at 
Portsmouth,  twenty-seven  years. 
He  was  afterwards  elected  to  the 
office  of  president  of  Harvard 
college,  which  he  held  from  1774 
to  1780.  Eminent  for  learn- 
ing, patriotism,  and  piety,  he 
deceased  Nov.  29,  1797,  aged 
75. — Prov.  and  State  Papers, 
vol.  x,  p.  9. 


10 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


S.  Hampton  & 

East  Kingstown,  Mr.  Benja  Clough, 

Kingstown,  Hon1  Josiah  Bartlett,  Esq'.i 

Brentwood,  Doc1.  Thomas  Stow  Ranney, 

Epping,  Mr.  Nath1  Ladd, 

New  Market,  Nath1  Rogers,  Esqr. 

Nottingham,  Thos.  Bartlett,  Esq1'. 2 


n. 
J- 
J- 

J- 

Y- 


1Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett,  Esq., 
takes  rank  with  the  most  emi- 
nent of  Xew  Hampshire's  sons. 
He  was  born  in  Amesbury,  Mass., 
in  1729, — son  of  Stephen  Bart- 
lett. In  his  profession  of  med- 
icine he  acquired  distinction, 
but  was  called  from  a  successful 
practice  to  fill  offices  of  trust 
and  honor  in  the  state  and  in 
the  national  congress.  He  was 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  July, 
1776  ;  chief-justice  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  (X.  H.)  1779; 
justice  of  the  superior  court, 
1784, — chief-justice  in  1788.  In 
1790  he  was  chosen  by  the  leg- 
islature president  of  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, and  in  1791  he  was  elect- 
ed to  the  same  office  by  the  peo- 
ple ;  and,  under  the  revised  con- 
stitution, he  was  chosen  gov- 
ernor, 1792.  He  was  the  chief 
original  founder  and  president 
of  the  Xew  Hampshire  Medical 
Societv,  1791.     He  died  May  1!», 


1795,  aged  65. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

-  Thomas  Bartlett,  Esq.,  of 
Xottingham.  was  among  the 
leading  patriots  of  Rockingham 
county.  Aside  from  offices  of 
minor  grade,  he  was  captain  of 
the  5th  company  of  "  six  weeks 
men  "  at  Winter  Hill  in  1775 ; 
lieutenant-colonel  in  Col.  Gil- 
man's  regiment  at  Rhode  Is- 
land in  1778 ;  from  May,  1778, 
to  January,  1779,  a  member  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety;  colo- 
nel of  one  of  the  Xew  Hamp- 
shire regiments  for  the  defence 
of  West  Point  in  1780.  Under 
the  law  of  1792  he  was  made 
brigadier-general  of  the  third 
brigade  of  Xew  Hampshire 
militia.  He  was  representative 
to  the  fourth  Provincial  Con- 
gress, at  Exeter,  May,  1775,  and 
one  of  the  committee  to  remove 
the  public  records  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Exeter,  in  June,  1775. 


MEMBERS. 


11 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


Deerfield,  Doc*.  Edmd  Chadwick, 

Northwood,  Epsom 

&  Allenstown,     Maj1'.  James  Gray, 

Chichester  & 

Benja  Sias,  Esqr. 
Col0  Jere.  Clough, 
Mr.  Charles  Glidden, 
Mr.  Jona  Smith, 
Cap*.  Benja  Emery, 
Samuel  Daniels,  Esqr. 
Mr.  Stephen  Fifield, 


Pittsfield, 

Canterbury, 

Northfield, 

Loudon, 

Concord, 

Pembroke, 

Candia, 

Raymond  & 
Poplin,1 

Hawke2  &  San- 
down, 

Hampstead, 


Mr.  Thomas  Chase, 

Mr.  Nehemiah  Sleeper, 
John  Calfe,  Esq1'.3 


n. 

n. 

y- 

n. 
n. 


n. 

n. 
J- 


After  the  Revolution  he  was 
speaker  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives and  justice  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas.  He 
died  June  30,  1807,  aged  59. 
— Prov.  and  State  Papers,  vol. 
10,  p.  9. 

1  Fremont. 

2  Danville. 

8  John  Calfe  was,  in  some  re- 
spects, a  very  remarkable  man. 
Few  were  so  generally  known 
throughout  the  state,  and  no 
one  was  more  highly  esteemed. 
He  was  born  at  Newbury,  Mass., 
on  the  13th  of  June,  1711.     He 


removed  to  Hampstead  in  1762. 
The  next  year  he  became  a 
member  of  the  church,  and  ten 
years  later  was  elected  a  deacon. 
He  was  an  mider  officer  in  one 
of  the  French  and  Indian  wars, 
and  was  in  active  service  about 
Lake  Champlain.  At  a  later 
period  he  was  a  captain  and 
subsequently  a  major  in  the 
army  of  the  Revolution.  From 
May  28,  1778,  to  June  5,  1779, 
and  from  Jan.  22,  1780,  to  May 
28,  1781,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Convention  called  to  con- 


12 

MEMBERS. 

Names  of  towns  and 

places               Names  of  delegates  to 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

the  Convention. 

Ratification. 

Atkinson  & 

Plastow, 

Col0.  Benf  Stone, 

n. 

Salem, 

L*.  Thomas  Dow, 

n. 

Newtown, 

Cap*.  Robert  Steward, 

n. 

Wyndham, 

James  Bettan,  Esq1'. 

y- 

Pelham, 

Revd  Amos  Moody, 

y- 

Dover, 

Doc1.  Ezra  Green,1 

y- 

Durham, 

Excy  John  Sullivan,  Esq1'. 

2      y- 

sider  the  ratification  of  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,  and  in  1791- 
92  held  the  same  office  in  the 
convention  for  the  revision  of 
the  state  constitution.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  for  the  county  of  Rocking- 
ham, and  for  a  like  period  was 
clerk  of  the  New  Hampshire 
house  of  representatives.  He 
was  emphatically  a  man  of  the 
people.  He  was  honest,  capa- 
ble, and  judicious.  An  old  wri- 
ter has  remarked  that  "no  man 
more  sacredly  regarded  the  will 
of  the  people  than  he."  He  died 
at  Hampstead,  October  30, 1808, 
aged  67. — Compiled  from  F.  and 
Moore's  Hist.  Col. 

JDr.  Ezra  Green,  of  Dover, 
was  born  in  Maiden,  Mass.; 
graduated  at  Harvard  college, 
1765;  joined  the  army  under 
Col.  James  Reed,  1775;  in  June 


of  that  year  was  appointed 
surgeon,  and  served  on  land  till 
April,  1778.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed surgeon  on  board  the 
ship  Ranger,  under  command  of 
Capt.  John  Paul  Jones.  Retir- 
ing from  service  in  1781,  he  set- 
tled at  Dover  as  a  merchant. 
He  died,  greatly  respected,  July 
25,  1847,  aged  101.— Prov.  and 
State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  9. 

2  His  Excellency  John  Sulli- 
van, Esq.,  president  of  the  Con- 
vention, was  the  son  of  John 
Sullivan,  and  was  born  in  Dover, 
in  that  part  called  Somers- 
worth,  in  1741.  He  was  a  broth- 
er of  His  Excellency  James  Sul- 
livan, of  Massachusetts.  Both 
received  their  education  from 
their  father.  John  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  at  Durham, 
where  he  continued  his  residence 
till  his  death,  and  where  his  re- 
mains  are   interred.     He  earlv 


MEMBERS. 


13 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to 
the  Convention. 


Sommersworth,       Moses  Carr,  Esq1'. 


Rochester, 
Barrington, 
Sandborntown, 
Gilmantown, 


Mr.  Barnabas  Palmer, 
Maj1'  Samuel  Hale, 
William  Harper,  Esqr. 
Honb1  Joseph  Badger,1 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 

y- 

n. 

y- 

n. 

n. 


evinced  a  military  spirit,  and 
was  one  of  the  brave  band  that 
seized  Fort  William  and  Mary  at 
New  Castle,  1774 ;  was  delegate 
to  congress  1774—75,  and  in  the 
latter  year  was  appointed  brig- 
adier-general in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution,  and  in  1779  major- 
general.  He  was  in  command 
at  Winter  Hill,  1775  ;  in  Can- 
ada, 1776;  distinguished  in  the 
battles  of  Brandywine  and  Ger- 
mantown,  1777  ;  commanded  the 
army  in  Rhode  Island,  1778 ; 
and  was  at  the  head  of  the  ex- 
pedition against  the  western  In- 
dians in  1779.  Filling  numer- 
ous offices  in  the  state  as  agent 
to  settle  the  disputed  bounds 
of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants, 
attorney-general,  etc.,  in  1786 
and  1787  he  was  chosen  pres- 
ident of  New  Hampshire.  In 
1789  he  was  a  presidential  elec- 
tor, and  again  that  year  chosen 
president  of  the  state.  He  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  district 
court  of  New  Hampshire  by 
Washington,  1789,  which  office 
he  held  till  his  death,  Jan.  23, 


1795,  at  the  age  of  54.  See  an 
admirable  portrait  of  him  in 
the  council-chamber,  Concord, 
painted  from  a  sketch  by  Col. 
Trumbull.  —  Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 

iHon.  Joseph  Badger,  Esq., 
son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Badger,  an 
early  settler  in  Gilmanton,  was 
born  in  Bradford,  Mass.,  Oct. 
23, 1746.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
military  ardor,  and  held  offices 
in  the  militia  for  thirty  years, 
passing  from  the  rank  of  captain 
to  that  of  brigadier-general.  He 
was  present  at  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne  in  1779.  After  the 
war  he  served  the  town  of  Gil- 
manton as  representative,  and 
was  a  councillor  six  years, — 
1784, 1790-92,  1795-96.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Gilman- 
ton academy,  gave  the  land  on 
which  it  is  located,  and  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing. He  died  Jan.  15, 1809,  aged 
62.  The  late  Governor  William 
Badger  was  his  son. — Prov.  and 
State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 


14 


MEMBERS. 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Cap*  Reuben  Hill, 
Revd  William  Hooper,1 


Lee, 
Madbury, 

Merrideth  & 

New  Hampton,  Col0.  Ebenr.  Smith, 
Sandwich  & 

Tamworth,  Daniel  Bedee,  Esqr. 

Moultonboro', 

Tuftonborough, 

Wolfboro'  & 

Ossipee,  Mr.  Nath1.  Shannon, 

Barnstead, 

New  Durham  & 

N.  D.  Gore,         Mr.  Jona.  Chesley, 
Wakefield, 

Middletown  & 

Effingham,  Mr.  Nicholas  Austin, 

Conway, 

Eaton, 

Burton2  & 

Locations,  David  Page,  Esqr. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


n. 


n. 


n. 


1  Rev.  William  Hooper  was 
born  in  Berwick,  Maine,  where 
he  was  ordained  as  a  Calvinist 
Baptist  minister  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  August,  1776.  On 
the  day  of  his  ordination  he 
baptized  Benjamin  Randall,  af- 
terwards the  founder  of  the 
Freewill  Baptist  denomination 
in  New  Hampshire.  He  remov- 
ed to  Madbury,  where  he  was 
highly  esteemed  as  a  man  and  a 
preacher.    He  had  a  small  farm, 


which,  with  shoemaking,  occu- 
pied his  leisure  time.  For  twen- 
ty-five years  he  was  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Xew  Hampshire  Bap- 
tist Association.  He  was  a  man 
of  middling  size,  vigorous  con- 
stitution, strong  mind,  retentive 
memory,  great  decision  of  char- 
acter, and  inflexible  integrity. 
He  died  in  Madbury  in  1837. — 
Compiled  from  Plumer  Papers. 

2  Albany. 


MEMBERS. 


15 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Nottingham  West^Mr.  Ebenr  Cummings, 


Litchfield, 

Derryfield,2 

Dunstable, 

Merrimac, 

Bedford, 

Goffstown, 

Holies, 

Amherst, 

Raby8  &  Mason, 

New  Ipswich, 


Mr.  Daniel  Bixby, 
Lieu*.  John  Hall, 
Deacu  Wm.  Hunt, 
Timothy  Taylor,  Esq1". 
Mr.  Stephen  Dole, 
Mr.  William  Page, 
Cap*.  Daniel  Kindrick, 
Joshua  Atherton,  Esqr.4 
Deac11  Amos  Dakin, 
Cap*.  Charles  Barrett,5 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 

n. 
n. 

j- 

n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 
n. 

y- 

n. 


1  Hudson. 

2  Manchester. 
8  Brookline. 

4  Hon.  Joshua  Atherton  was 
born  in  Harvard,  Massachusetts, 
June  20,  1737 ;  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  college,  1762  ;  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law  in 
Amherst,  1772  ;  was  father  of 
Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton  and 
grandfather  of  Hon.  Charles  G. 
Atherton,  both  distinguished  as 
lawyers  and  civilians.  In  the 
Revolution,  Mr.  Atherton  at 
first  favored  the  loyalists,  and 
for  a  time  was  imprisoned  in 
Amherst  jail,  but  subsequently 
regained  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow-citizens;  was  a  member 
of  the  Convention  that  adopted 
the  Federal  Constitution,  1788, 
state  senator,  1793,  and  attor- 
ney-general of  the  state  1793- 
1801.  He  died  in  Amherst,  April 


3, 1809,  aged  71. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  35. 

5  Capt.  Charles  Barrett  was 
born  in  1740,  and  for  many  years 
was  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
citizens  of  New  Ipswich.  Dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  period  his 
loyalty  to  the  patriot  cause  was 
for  a  time  in  doubt,  but  he  re- 
gained public  confidence,  and 
was  repeatedly  honored  by  his 
fellow-citizens  with  important 
public  offices.  He  was  a  state 
senator  in  1791,  1793,  and  1794, 
and  at  different  times  a  repre- 
sentative and  a  councillor.  He 
with  associates  erected  the  first 
cotton  factory  built  in  New 
Hampshire.  On  a  plan  of  his 
own  he  constructed  a  canal  in 
the  midst  of  George's  river, 
hoping  thereby  to  render  prac- 
ticable the  passage  of  boats 
from  tide  water  to  the  town — an 


1(5 

MEMBERS. 

Names  of  towns  and  places 

Names  of  delegates  to  the 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

Convention. 

Ratification. 

Francestown, 

Mr.  Thomas  Bixby, 

n. 

Wilton, 

Mr.  William  Abbott, 

y- 

Lyncleborongh, 

Doc*.  Benja  Jones, 

n. 

Temple  & 

Peterbor0  Slip, 

Deacn  John  Cragin, 

n. 

Peterbor0  & 

Society  Land, 

Maf.  Nathan  Dix, 

Hancock,  Antrim 

&  Deering, 

Mr.  Evan  Dow, 

Hinnekar  & 

Hillsborough, 

Mr.  Robert  B.  Wilkins,1 

y- 

New  Boston, 

John  Cochran,  Esq1'. 

n. 

Weare, 

Mr.  Jonathan  Dow, 

n. 

Hopkinton, 

Mr.  Joshua  Morss, 

y- 

Dunbarton  &  Bow, 

Mr.  Jacob  Green, 

n. 

enterprise  which  proved  unsuc- 
cessful.  He  was  a  large  owner  of 
wild  lands  in  Maine,  and  made 
many  efforts  for  their  occupancy 
and  improvement.  He  was  an 
impulsive  man,  and  possessed 
great  energy.  He  had  but  a 
limited  education,  yet  his  untir- 
ing activity  and  business  expe- 
rience suplied  in  part  this  want. 
Few  persons,  if  any,  appreciated 
more  fully  the  value  of  early 
mental  training,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  New  Ips- 
wich academy.  He  died  Dec. 
21,  1808.— Compiled  from  Histo- 
ry of  New  Ipswich. 

iMr.  Robert  B.  Wilkins,   of 


Henniker,  a  native  of  Amherst, 
entered  the  army  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill — wounded ;  in  the 
Continental  army,  in  Col.  Scam- 
mel's  regiment,  he  was  promo- 
ted to  a  lieutenancy.  He  served 
under  Gen.  Lafayette,  of  whom 
he  was  a  great  admirer.  On  his 
visit  to  Concord,  in  June,  1825, 
the  general  met  Lieut.  Wilkins 
and  recognized  him.  Receiving 
a  pension  from  the  government, 
he  spent  the  later  years  of  his 
life  with  his  family  in  Concord, 
but  died  in  Boston,  August, 
1832,  aged  77. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 


MEMBERS. 


17 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 

Salisbury, 

Boscawen, 

Fishersfield,2  Sut- 
ton &  Warner, 

New  London,  An- 
dover  &  Gore, 

Charlestown, 

Alstead, 

Keene, 

Swanzey, 

Richmond, 


Names  of  delegates  to  the  Vote  of  each  on 

Convention.  Ratification. 

Col0  Ebenezer  Webster,1 

Col0  Joseph  Gerrish,  y. 

Nath1  Bean,  Esq1'.  n. 


Benja  West,  Esq1'.3  y. 

Cap*.  Oliver  Shepherd,  y. 

Revd  Aaron  Hall,4  y. 

Maj1'.  Elisha  Whitcomb,  y. 

Mr.  Jona.  Gaskill,  n. 


1  Col.  Ebenezer  "Webster,  of 
Salisbury,  was  the  father  of 
Hon.  Ezekiel  and  Daniel  Web- 
ster. He  was  born  in  Kingston 
in  1740.  Settling  in  Salisbury, 
he  served  in  the  "  Seven  Years 
"War  "  against  the  French  and 
Indians;  in  the  Revolution  he 
was  captain  of  a  company ;  in 
1785-99  was  a  state  senator, 
and  also  1790-91.  He  was  a 
judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  for  Hillsborough  county 
from  1791  to  1806.  It  does  not 
appear  that  he  voted  on  the 
adoption  of  the  Constitution. 
He  died  in  1806,  aged  67.— Prov. 
and  State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  10. 

2  Newbury. 

3  Benjamin  "West,  Esq.,  of 
Charlestown,  was   son   of  Rev. 


Thomas  West  and  brother  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  West,  of 
Boston.  He  was  born  April  8, 
1716  ;  graduated  at  Harvard 
college,  1768.  He  resided  in 
Charlestown  more  than  forty 
years  in  the  practice  of  law,  and 
died  July,  1817,  aged  71.  He 
ranked  among  the  first  of  his 
profession.  —  Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  11. 

4  Rev.  Aaron  Hall,  of  Keene,  a 
native  of  Cheshire,  Conn.,  born 
in  1751,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
college,  1772;  ordained  Febru- 
ary 19, 1778  ;  died  Aug.  12, 1814, 
after  a  ministry  of  thirty-six 
years,  aged  63. — Prov.  and  State 
Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  11. 


18 

MEMBERS. 

Names  of  towns  and  places            Names  of  delegates  to  the 

Vote  of  each  on 

represented. 

Convention. 

Ratification. 

Jaffrey, 

Mr.  Abel  Parker, 

n. 

Winchester, 

Cap*.  Moses  Chamberlain, 

y- 

Westmoreland, 

Mr.  Archilans  Temple, 

y- 

Chesterfield, 

Doe*.  Solomon  Harvey, 

n. 

Rindge, 

Cap*.  Othniel  Thomas, 

n. 

Walpole, 

(  Gen1.  Benja  Bellows,2 

y- 

X  Mr.  Aaron  Allen, 


iHon.  Abel  Parker,  son  of 
Samuel  Parker  and  Mary  (Proc- 
tor) Robbins,was  born  in  West- 
ford,  Mass.,  March  25, 1753.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  removed 
with  his  father  to  Pepperell, 
Mass.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  was 
wounded.  He  was  subsequent- 
ly a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Job  Sbat- 
tuck's  company,  of  Col.  Reed's 
regiment.  Upon  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service  he  return- 
ed to  his  farm  in  Pepperell,  and 
was  married,  Oct.  14,  1777,  to 
Edith,  daughter  of  Jedediah 
Jewett,  of  P.  —  a  woman  of 
marked  religious  character.  On 
the  5th  of  May,  1780,  he  remov- 
ed to  Jaffrey,  where  he  cleared 
a  farm,  which  he  occupied  until 
1805,  when  he  again  removed 
to  the  centre  of  the  town,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  a  tall  man,  of 
stately  appearance,  dignified, 
grave  in  his  deportment,  highly 
respected   and   influential.     He 


held  many  town  and  state  offi- 
ces, and  was  a  judge  of  pro- 
bate for  twenty  years.  He  was 
also,  for  a  time,  postmaster  of 
Jaffrey.  He  was  a  deeply  re- 
ligious man,  and  a  member  of 
various  benevolent  societies.  He 
died  in  1831,  aged  78  years. 

J.    B.  W. 

2 Gen.  Benjamin  Bellows,  of 
"Walpole,  son  of  Col.  Benjamin, 
was  born  Oct.  6,  1740.  He  was 
greatly  respected  as  a  citizen, 
and  honored  with  many  public 
offices, — as  representative,  sena- 
tor, and  councillor.  He  was 
president  of-  the  electoral  col- 
lege when  George  Washington 
was  elected  president,  in  1789, 
and  again,  in  1797,  when  John 
Adams  was  elected.  In  the 
Revolution  he  commanded  a 
regiment;  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne.  He  died 
in  Walpole,  June,  1802,  aged  61. 
—  State  and  Prov.  Papers,  vol. 
x,  p.  11. 


MEMBERS. 


19 


Names  of  towns  and  places 
represented. 


Names  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention. 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


Claremont,  Deac11.  Matthias  Stone, 

Cornish  &  Gran- 
tham, Gen1.  Jonathan  Chase, 

Newport  &  Croy- 

clen,  Mr.  John  Remmele, 

Ac  worth,  Lem  li- 
ster, &  Mar- 
low,  Daniel  Grout,  Esq1'. 

Wendell1  &  Unity,  Mr.  Moses  True, 

Surry  &  Gilsom,    Col0.  Jonathan  Smith, 

Stoddard  &  Wash- 
ington, Thomas  Pinneman,  Esq1'. 

Dublin  &  Packers- 
field,2  Sam1.  Griffin,  Esqr. 

Marlborough,  Mr.  Jedediah  Tainter, 

Fitz  William,         IA  Caleb  Winch, 

Plainfield,  Maj1'.  Joseph  Kimball, 

Hinsdale,  Mr.  Uriel  Evans, 

Protectworth,3 

Holderness,  Camp- 
ton,  &  Thornton,Hon'.  Samuel  Livermore,4 


n. 


y- 


n. 


n. 

n. 


n. 

y- 

n. 
n. 

J- 


y- 


1  Sunapee. 

2  Nelson. 

3  Springfield. 

4Hon.  Samuel  Livermore,  Esq., 
president  of  the  Convention, 
was  probably  a  descendant  of 
John  Livermore,  who  was  in 
Watertown,  Mass.,  1642.  He 
was  born  in  Waltham,  Mass., 
May  14,  1732,  O.  S. ;  graduated 


at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  1752  ; 
came  to  New  Hampshire  1757, 
and  established  himself  in  Ports- 
mouth ;  for  several  years  was 
judge-advocate  of  the  admiralty 
court,  and  in  1769  was  the  king's 
attorney-general  for  New  Hamp- 
shire. About  1765  he  settled 
in  Holderness,  Grafton  county. 
Representative  from  that  town, 
attorney-general  of  the  state  be- 


20  MEMBERS. 

Names  of  towns  and  places  Names  of  delegates  to  the  Vote  of  each  on 

represented.  Convention.  Ratification. 

Plymouth,  Rum- 
ney,  &  Went- 
worth,  Francis  Worster,  Esqr.  y. 

New  Chester1,  Al- 
exandra, & 
Cockermouth,2    Mr.  Thomas  Crawford,  y. 

Enfield,  Canaan, 
Cardigan,8  Dor- 
chester &  Graf- 
ton, Jesse  Johnson,  Esqr.  y. 

Hanover,  Jonathan  Freeman,  Esqr.  y. 

Lebanon,  Col0.  Elisha  Payne,  y. 

Lyme  &  Orford,     Wm.  Simpson,  Esqr.  y. 

Haverhill,  Pier- 
mont,  Warren, 
and  Coventry,4  Col0.  Joseph  Hutchins,  n. 

Lincoln    &  Fran- 

conia,  Cap*.  Isaac  Patterson,  y. 


fore  the  Revolution,  and  after-  received  the  honorary  degree  of 

ward,  1776.    In  1779  he  was  ap-  LL.  D.  from  Dartmouth  college 

pointed  commissioner  to  support  1792.     He  died  at  Holderness, 

and   defend  the   claims  to  the  May,  1803,  in  the  72d  year  of 

New  Hampshire  grants;  mem-  his  age. — Prov.    and   State  Pa- 

ber    of  congress    1780-82,  and  pers,  vol.  x,  p.  37. 

then  chief-justice  of   the   state 

1782-90,  as   successor   of   Hon.  iHill. 

Meshech    Weare.     He    was     a 

member    of    the    Federal  Con-  2  Groton. 

vention  in  1788  ;  again  elected  3  Qrano.e# 

to    congress    1790-93;    United 

States   Senator  six   years.     He  4  Benton. 


MEMBERS. 


21 


Names  of  towns  and  places  Names  of  delegates  to  the 

represented.  Convention. 

Bath,  Lyman, 
Landaff,  Little- 
ton &  Dalton.     Majr.  Samuel  Young, 

Lancaster,  North- 
umberland, 
Stratford,  Dart- 
mouth,1 Piercy,2 
Cockburn,3  & 
Coleburn,4  Cap1.  John  Weeks, 


Vote  of  each  on 
Ratification. 


1  Jefferson. 

2  Stark, 


3  Columbia. 

4  Colebrook. 


CHAPTEK    III. 

FIRST    SESSION    OP    THE    CONVENTION. 

Examination  and  discussio7i  of  the  Constitution. 
Ratification  found  impossible.  Adjournment 
to  a  future  day  'proposed,  opposed,  and  car- 
ried. 

The  New  Hampshire  Convention  for  the  " In- 
vestigation, Discussion,  and  Decision  of  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,"  assembled  at  the  conrt-honse 
in  Exeter,  on  Wednesday,  the  thirteenth  day  of 
February,  A.  D.  1788.  A  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers were  undoubtedly  opposed  to  the  Constitu- 
tion. It  has  been  alleged  that  before  the  dele- 
gates had  been  chosen,  active  Anti-Federalists1 
had  visited  more  or  less  of  the  towns  which 
were  off  the  more  public  lines  of  travel,  and 
induced  their  citizens,  who   as  yet  knew  little 

1  Those    favoring    and   those      designated    as    Federalists   and 
opposing  the  ratification  of  the      Anti-Federalists. 
Constitution  were    respectively 


FIRST    SESSION.  23 

regarding  its  provisions,  to  instruct  their  dele- 
gates to  vote  against  it.1 

The  talent  of  the  Convention  was  decidedly 
on  the  side  of  the  Federalists,  and  a  majority  of 
the  ablest  members  were  in  favor  of  ratification.2 
His  Excellency  John  Sullivan,  Hon.  Samuel 
Livermore,  Chief- Justice  of  the  Superior  Court, 
Hon.  John  Taylor  Gilman,  Hon.  John  Langdon, 
as  well  as  other  members  of  commanding  influ- 
ence, were  outspoken  and  earnest  for  its  adop- 
tion. These  all  worked  in  harmony  to  that 
end. 

The  opposition  was  led  by  Hon.  Joshua  Ath- 
erton,  who  was  earnestly  supported  by  Captain 
Charles  Barrett,  Hon.  Abel  Parker,  Rev.  Will- 
iam M.  Hooper,  Deacon  Matthias  Stone,  and 
others. 

On  the  first  day  about  fifty  members  were 
present.  These  chose  Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett 
chairman,  and  appointed  Hon.  Samuel  Liver- 
more,  Hon.  John  Taylor  Gilman,  and  Benjamin 
West,  Esq.,  a  committee  to  examine  the  returns 
of  the  elections  of  the  several  members,  and  to 
prepare  and  report  to  the  Convention  a  code  of 

^Massachusetts  Centinel,  Feb.  2  Memoir  of  Joshua  Atherton, 

27,  1788.  by  Hon.  C.  H.  Atherton. 


24  FIRST    SESSION. 

rules  for  the  regulation  of  its  proceedings.  They 
then  adjourned  to  meet  again  the  next  day,  at 
ten  o'clock  a.  m. 

Thursday,  February  14.  Upon  the  reassem- 
bling of  the  Convention,  about  one  hundred 
members  were  found  to  be  present.  It  was  per- 
manently organized  by  the  choice  of  Hon.  John 
Calfe  secretary,  and  His  Excellency  John  Sulli- 
van president.  At  the  close  of  the  forenoon 
session  it  adjourned  to  meet  again  at  the  meet- 
ing-house,1 at  three  o'clock  p.  m.,  where  the  sub- 
sequent meetings  of  this  session  were  held. 

In  the  afternoon  the  committee  previously 
appointed  reported  the  following  rules,  which 
were  adopted  by  the  Convention: 

1st.  That  as  it  is  essential  to  the  public  interest,  so  it 
shall  be  considered  and  enjoyned  as  the  Incumbent  duty 
of  each  member  of  this  Convention  seasonably  and 
punctually  to  attend  in  his  place  and  not  absent  himself 
without  leave. 

2d.  That  freedom  of  deliberation,  speech  and  debate 
in  the  Convention  be  allowed  to  each  member  thereof ; 
yet  no  member  shall  by  speech  or  behaviour  in  Conven- 
tion give  just  occasion  of  offence  to  another. 

3d.  That  any  member  disposed  to  make  a  motion  or 

1  This  occupied  the  site  of  the      by  which  it  was  superseded  in 
present    meeting-house    of    the       1798. 
First    Congregational    Society, 


FIRST    SESSIOX.  25 

speak  to  a  matter  in  debate,  shall  rise  from  his  seat  and 
address  the  President ;  but  on  being  called  to  order  by 
the  President,  he  shall  be  silent ;  yet  if  such  silenced 
member  shall  conceive  himself  injured  thereby,  the 
President  shall  take  a  vote  of  the  Convention  thereon, 
and  such  member  shall  submit  to  their  determination. 

4th.  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  twice  to  any 
subject  in  debate  until  each  member  have  an  opportu- 
nity to  offer  his  opinion. 

5th.  No  motion  from  one  member  shall  be  received 
or  debated  unless  seconded  by  another. 

6th.  When  a  motion  is  regularly  before  the  Conven- 
tion, it  shall  at  any  time,  at  the  request  of  a  member, 
be  reduced  to  writing  by  the  person  making  it. 

7th.  On  the  question  for  adopting  the  Federal  Consti- 
tution, and  on  that  only,  the  yeas  and  nays  may  be  taken 
if  desired  by  a  member. 

8th.  When  it  shall  appear  that  any  person  returned 
is  not  legally  chosen,  he  shall  be  dismissed. 

9th.  That  in  determining  any  question  the  votes  of  a 
majority  of  the  members  present  shall  be  necessary, 
excepting  such  members  as  may  by  the  consent  of  the 
Convention  be  excused  from  voting,  on  their  giving 
satisfactory  reasons  therefor. 

10th.  That  a  motion  to  postpone  any  Question  or  to 
adjourn  shall  take  place  of  any  other  motion. 

11th.  That  no  vote  be  reconsidered  when  there  is  a 
less  number  of  members  present  than  there  was  at  pass- 
ing the  same. 

After  ordering  a  new  town-meeting  for  the 
election  of  a  delegate  from  Xewington,  Mr.  Liv- 
ermore  moved  to  proceed  to  a  consideration  of  the 


26  FIRST    SESSION. 

new  Constitution  by  paragraphs.    Mr.  Pickering 

thereupon  urged  that  it  would  be  most  expedient 
"  to  take  a  review  of  the  old  Constitution,  point 
out  its  defects  and  the  necessity  of  having  a  new 
one  adopted,  preparatory  to  any  other  proceed- 
ing." The  Convention,  however,  did  not  concur 
in  this  opinion,  and,  having  sustained  Mr.  Liver- 
more's  motion,  proceeded  to  the  investigation  of 
the  proposed  Constitution  by  paragraphs.1 

The  first  section  of  the  first  article  caused  no 
discussion;  but  the  second,  providing  for  the 
election  of  representatives  in  congress  for  a  term 
of  two  years,  gave  rise  to  an  animated  debate, 
which  was  continued  through  the  remainder  of 
the  day  and  occupied  a  part  of  the  next.  Mr. 
Atherton  vigorously  opposed  this  section  upon 
grounds  similar  to  those  which  had  been  urged 
in  the  Massachusetts  Convention.  He  was  an- 
swered by  Mr.  Livermore,  Mr.  Langdon,  Mr. 
Pickering,  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Thurston. 

The  examination  of  the  proposed  Constitution 
thus  commenced  was  continued  from  day  to  day, 
Sunday  excepted,  for  the  ensuing  seven  days. 
For  a  time  the  friends  of  the  Constitution  had 

1  Independent  Chronicle  and  Universal  Advertiser  of  Feb.  21,  1788. 


FIRST    SESSION.  27 

hopes  of  securing  its  ratification  without  a  recess 
of  the  Convention.  Although  the  greater  num- 
ber of  the  members  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
state  came  down  rather  opposed  to  its  adoption, 
yet  on  the  final  question  it  was  hoped  that  a 
majority  would  be  found  to  favor  it.1  But  these 
hopes  proved  delusive.  While  some  of  the 
members,  who  came  to  the  Convention  instructed 
to  vote  against  the  Constitution,  had  been  led  by 
the  discussions  to  a  change  of  opinion  and  now 
favored  it,  they  still  felt  bound  by  their  instruc- 
tions, and  frankly  said  that  if  a  final  vote  was  to 
be  taken  before  they  had  opportunity  to  consult 
their  constituents  their  vote  would  be  adverse  to 
ratification.2     This  would  secure  a  rejection  of 

1  Massachusetts  Centinel  of  Feb.  stituents.  he  opposed  its  ratifica- 
23,  1788.  tion. — Secomb's  Hist,  of Amherst, 

2  At    a    legal    town-meeting,       P-  §60. 

held  in  Warner  on  the  twenty-  T      ,,  .      ,                 ,      f    r 

J  In   this   town  party  feelings 

fourth  day  ot  January,  1788,  it  ,  •  ,           -, 

J                    J            '  ran  high,   and,  strange  to  say, 

was  "  v  oted  not  too  Except  the  ^    , ,             ,       ,     -,    i 

x  some    ot   those  who   had    been 

new  Constitution." — Hamman's  .   ,       ■,    .                   , 

most  loyal  to   a   regal  govern- 

Histori/  of  Warner,  p.  253.  ,     ,                               ,.     ,   . 

J   •'                '  l  ment,    became  most  radical  m 

In  1788  he  [Joshua  Atherton]  their  democracy.  The  oppos- 
was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  ing  candidates  for  the  Conven- 
Convention  to  ratify  or  reject  tion  on  its  acceptance  were  Hon. 
the  proposed  Constitution  of  the  Timothy  Farrar,  a  strong  Fed- 
United  States.  Acting  upon  eralist,  and  Hon.  Charles  Bar- 
his  own  convictions  of  right  rett.  After  a  hard  struggle,  the 
and  the  instructions  of  his  con-  latter    was     elected.     He    was 


28  FIRST    SESSION. 

the  Constitution,  and  prejudice  unfavorably  its 
success  in  those  states  where  conventions  were 
yet  to  be  held.  At  the  same  time  the  declara- 
tion indicated  that  some  of  them  would  array 
themselves  with  the  friends  of  the  new  system 
of  government,  could  they  free  themselves  of  the 
shackles  which  bound  them.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances it  seemed  to  the  friends  of  the  Con- 
stitution that  the  wisest  course  to  be  pursued 
was, — 

1st.  To  secure,  if  possible,  a  recess  of  the 
Convention. 

2d.  During  that  time  to  effect,  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable, a  change  in  public  opinion  favorable  to 
the  great  cause  which  they  had  so  much  at 
heart,  particularly  in  the  towns  represented  by 
the  delegates  above  mentioned.  Their  first 
effort,  therefore,  was  to  secure  an  adjournment 
to  a  future  day  sufficiently  distant  to  give  time 
for  the  contemplated  effort. 

strongly  opposed  to  the  Consti-  not  to  accept  said  Constitution, 

tution,  and  voted  against  it  to  and  chose  a  committee  of  nine 

the    last,   often    declaring   that  to  give  their  delegates  instruc- 

presidents  would  prove  nothing  tions  to  oppose  its  adoption  by 

less    than   four-year-old    kings,  the  Convention      The  commit- 

and    finally    kings    for    life. —  tee  reported  a  list  of  objections, 

History  of  New  Ipswich,  p.  116.  which    were    by   the   town  for- 

It    was    discussed    in    town-  warded    to    the   Convention.— 

meeting,   and   the   town   voted  Fox's  Hist,  of  Dunstable,  p.  188. 


FIRST    SESSION.  29 

Mr.  Langclon  accordingly  introduced  a  resolu- 
tion to  that  effect,  and  urged  its  passage  with 
his  wonted  force  and  eloquence.  He  was  earn- 
estly oppposed  by  Mr.  Atherton  in  a  speech  in 
which  he  pointed  out  objections  to  the  adoption 
of  the  Constitution,  and  endeavored  to  show  that 
the  fruits  of  ratification  would  be  "tyranny- in 
the  extreme  and  despotism  with  a  vengeance." 
Mr.  Hooper,  Mr.  Parker,  and  Deacon  Manasseh 
Stone  also  opposed  the  resolution.  The  speech 
of  Mr.  Atherton  was  answered  by  Mr.  Thurston. 
After  a  sharp  debate,  the  resolution  was  carried 
by  a  slender  majority  of  five,  fifty-six  having 
voted  for  and  fifty-one  against  its  adoption.1 
This  ended  the  first  session,  the  Convention 
adjourning  to  meet  at  Concord  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  the  following  June.2 

^Massachusetts  Centinel,  March  great  part  of  whom  had  instruc- 

2  X788  tions  to  vote  against  it.  How- 
ever, after  spending  ten  days  on 

2  The  reason  for  the  course  the  arguments,  a  number  of  op- 
taken  at  this  time  by  the  Fed-  ponents  came  to  me  and  said 
eralists  is  very  plainly  stated  they  were  convinced,  and  should 
in  a  letter  of  John  Latigdon  to  be  very  unhappy  to  vote  against 
Rufus  King,  dated  Feb.  23,  the  Constitution,  which  they 
1788.  In  it  he  says  that  "con-  (however  absurd)  must  do  in 
trary  to  the  expectation  of  al-  case  the  question  was  called  for. 
most  every  man  of  reflection  at  I  therefore  moved  for  the  ad- 
our  first  meeting,  a  majority  journment,  which  was  carried, 
appeared    against  the    plan,    a  though    much    opposed  by  the 


30  FIRST    SESSION. 

That  this  adjournment  was  a  decided  victory 
of  the  friends  of  the  Constitution,  however  at 
first  generally  regarded,  was  soon  as  plain  as 
the  daylight.  It  afforded  time  for  an  enlighten- 
ment of  the  people  of  the  more  inland  towns, 
whose  law-abiding  communities,  devoted  almost 
wholly  to  agriculture,  felt  but  little  the  impor- 
tance of  the  possession  of  enlarged  power  by  the 
general  government,  and  knew  but  little  of  the 
provisions  of  the  proposed  Constitution. 

However  "absurd"  the  reasoning  of  these 
members  may  have  been,  it  eventually  secured  to 
New  Hampshire  the  honor  of  being  the  ninth 
instead  of  the  seventh  state  to  ratify  the  Consti- 
tution. 

other  side.  This  question  deter-  for  their  instructions."  —  Ban- 
mined  a  majority  in  favor  of  croft's  Hist,  of  Constitution,  vol. 
the  Constitution,  had  it  not  been      2,  p.  462. 


CHAPTER    IY. 

DURING     THE      EtfTEHIM. 

Friends  of  the  Constitution  at  first  disappointed 
by  the  adjournment.  Progress  of  Ratification 
in  other  states.  Efforts  of  the  Federalists 
during  the  recess. 

The  adjournment  of  the  New  Hampshire  Con- 
vention without  decisive  action  was  the  first 
check  which  the  cause  of  an  efficient  national 
government  had  thus  far  encountered.  It  was, 
and  very  naturally,  a  source  of  discouragement 
to  its  friends  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  and 
its  influence  upon  the  other  Conventions  yet  to 
take  action  was  somewhat  feared.  On  the  ninth 
of  April,  Gen.  Henry  Knox  wrote  to  Gen.  Sulli- 
van that  "  the  unfortunate  check  which  the  new 
Constitution  has  received  in  New  Hampshire 
has  given  new  life  and  spirits  to  the  opponents 
of  the  proposed  system,  and  dampened  the  ardor 
of  its  friends." 


32  DURING    THE    INTERIM. 

But  one  of  the  closing  paragraphs  of  the 
same  letter  shows  the  confidence  in  ultimate 
triumph  in  that  state  by  the  Federalists  who 
were  on  the  ground  and  knew  the  exact  condi- 
tion of  things  there.  "I  am  happy,"  says  Knox, 
"that  you  have  such  confidence  in  the  future 
conduct  of  your  Convention.  I  hope  to  God 
you  may  not  be  disappointed."1 

In  fact,  all  who  understood  the  reasons  for 
the  adjournment  and  the  drift  of  public  opinion 
in  the  state  felt  confident  that  the  Convention 
would  ratify  the  Constitution  upon  its  reassem- 
bling in  June.  But  some  ardent  Federalists 
without  the  state  did  not  understand  these,  or 
that  the  little  majority  of  five,  by  which  it  was 
carried,  indicated  a  victory  and  not  a  defeat. 
Some  of  these  expressed  their  disappointment 
in  words  more  censorious  than  kind. 

A  writer  in  the  Connecticut  Courant  of  March 
3,  1788,  thus  addresses  the  people  of  New 
Hampshire  : 

Though  separated  from  the  government  of  Britain 
at  no  less  price  than  the  blood  of  your  bravest  sous, 
you  border  on  her  dominions.  She  is  our  enemy,  and 
wishes  nothing  more  than  your  submission  to  her  laws 

1  Amory's  Life  of  John  Sullivan,  p.  232. 


DURENTG    THE    INTERIM.  33 

and  to  the  will  of  her  proud  servants.  Her  force  may- 
be easily  pointed  through  your  whole  territory,  and 
a  few  regiments  would  effectually  banish  resistance. 
New  Hampshire,  though  growing  in  population  and 
among  the  first  states  in  personal  bravery,  cannot  yet 
stand  alone.  Should  a  disunion  of  the  states  tempt  Brit- 
ain to  make  another  effort  for  the  recovery  of  her  former 
greatness,  you  will  be  the  first  to  fall  under  her  sway. 
In  such  event,  you  will  have  nothing  to  expect  from 
the  other  states.  Dispirited  in  a  fruitless  attempt  to 
unite  in  some  plan  of  general  government  and  protec- 
tion, they  will  say,  Let  the  dissenting  states  abide  the 
consequences  of  their  own  false  opinions.  Though 
such  a  reply  might  not  be  wise,  it  would  be  exactly 
conformable  to  what  we  have  found  in  human  nature, 
and  nature  will  ever  have  its  course,  let  policy  be  what 
it  may. 

But  nearer  home  the  true  situation  was  better 
understood.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of  Febru- 
ary, six  days  after  the  adjournment,  the  Massa- 
chusetts Centinel,  a  paper  which  kept  itself  ac- 
curately informed  of  the  action  of  our  Conven- 
tion, gave  to  its  readers  a  full  account  of  the 
cause  and  object  of  the  adjournment,  under  an 
illustrated  caption  consisting  of  six  upright 
columns,  inscribed  respectively  Delaware,  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey,  Georgia,  Connecticut, 
Massachusetts,  and  of  a  seventh  half  way  up 
representing    New    Hampshire,   to    which   was 


34  DURING    THE    INTERIM. 

attached  the  motto,  "  It  will  rise."     It  closes  its 
article  by  saying, — 

We  may  venture  to  assert  that  the  cause  of  Federal- 
ism in  New  Hampshire  will  not  suffer  a  diminution, 
and  that  their  pillar  of  the  Federal  Edifice,  though 

NOW   IT   RESTETH,    WILL   MOST   ASSUREDLY   RISE.1 

Thus  far  the  Constitution  had  been  ratified 
by  six  of  the  nine  states  required  to  render  it 
operative, — by  Delaware,  December  6,  1787,  by 
a  unanimous  vote  ;  by  Pennsylvania,  December 
12,  1787,  by  a  vote  of  forty-six  to  twenty-three, 
or  two  to  one  ;  by  ^ew  Jersey,  December  18, 
1787,  and  by  Georgia,  January  2,  1788,  by 
unanimous  votes  of  the  Conventions  of  both 
states  ;  by  Connecticut,  January  9,  1788,  by  a 
vote  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  yeas  to 
forty  nays,  or  more  than  three  to  one  ;  and  by 
Massachusetts,  February  6, 1788,  Avhere  the  yeas 
had  been  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  and  the 
nays  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  a  majority  of 

1  A    favorite    illustration    of  these  were  connected  with  one 

the  progress  of  ratification  by  another  by  semi-circular   lines, 

the  different  states  adopted  by  indicating  arches,  the  head  of 

the  newspapers  of  the  time  was  each    being    ornamented   by   a 

a  row  of  perpendicular  columns  star.      Appropriate  mottoes   in 

inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  poetry  or  Latin  often  enhanced 

states  which  had    ratified  the  the  attractiveness  of  these  illus- 

Constitution.     The  capitals  of  trations. 


DURING    THE    INTERIM.  35 

nineteen.  In  other  words,  in  three  of  these 
states  ratification  had  been  carried  unanimously, 
and  in  the  three  others  it  had  received  three 
hundred  and  sixty-one  out  of  an  aggregate  of 
five  hundred  and  ninety-two  votes,  or  sixty  per 
cent,  of  this  last  mentioned  number. 

What  influence  the  small  majority  for  the 
Constitution  so  recently  given  by  Massachusetts 
may  have  had  in  New  Hampshire  it  is  impos- 
sible now  to  say.  That  it  was  of  considerable 
potency  may  be  fairly  inferred  from  the  close 
proximity  and  intimate  relations  of  the  two 
states. 

During  the  recess,  the  Federalists  of  New 
Hampshire  were  active  in  their  exertions  in 
behalf  of  ratification.  "While  the  long  winter 
intercepted  the  labors  of  husbandly,  the  firesides 
of  the  freeholders  in  its  hundreds  of  townships 
became  the  scene  for  discussing  the  merits  of 
the  Federal  Constitution,  with  the  delegates  of 
their  choice  and  with  one  another." 1 

They  were  greatly  cheered  by  the  results  of 
the  Conventions  held  in  Maryland  and  South 
Carolina, — in  the  first  of  which  ratification  was 
carried  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  April  by  a 

1  Bancroft's  History  of  the  Constitution,  vol.  2,  p.  318. 


36  DUKIXG-    THE    INTERIM. 

vote  of  sixty  to  eleven,  nearly  six  to  one  ;  and 
in  the  latter  by  one  hundred  and  forty-one  to 
sixty-three,  or  about  two  to  one.  Mr.  Bancroft 
says  that  "when  the  astounding  news  reached 
Xew  Hampshire,  her  people  grew  restless  to  be 
the  state  yet  needed  to  assure  the  new  bond  of 
union,  but  for  that  palm  she  must  run  a  race 
with  Virginia." * 

1  Bancroft's  History  of  the  Constitution,  vol.  2,  p.  294. 


CHAPTER   Y. 

SECOND    SESSION    OE    THE    CONVENTION. 

General  interest  in  its  'proceedings.  First  and 
second  days.  Appointment  of  a  committee  to 
propose  amendments.  Mr.  A.thertori's  motion, 
to  ratify  conditionally,  defeated.  Judge  Liv- 
ermore's  motion.  Motion  to  adjourn  defeated. 
The  main  question  put.     The  final  vote. 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  June,  1788,  agree- 
ably to  its  adjournment,  the  Convention  reassem- 
bled in  the  old  North  Meeting  House  in  Con- 
cord, with  a  full  knowledge  that  the  favorable 
action  of  but  one  more  state  was  requisite  to 
render  operative  the  new  constitution.  Many  of 
the  members  came  from  constituencies  whose 
sentiments  had  grown  more  favorable  to  ratifica- 
tion during  the  previous  few  months.  The  Vir- 
ginia Convention  had  been  in  session  since  the 
sixth  of  the  month,  and  that  of  New  York  had 


38  SECOND    SESSION". 

come  together  on  the  seventeenth.  Various 
considerations  had  delayed  final  action  in  the 
former,  and  there  had  yet  been  no  time  for  it  in 
the  latter. 

Should  the  little  mountainous  state  of  New 
Hampshire,  the  uppermost  of  the  whole  thirteen, 
which  skirted  the  Atlantic  coast  from  the  frozen 
north  to  the  sunny  south,  dare  contest  with  these 
two  great  commonwealths  the  honor  of  inau- 
gurating the  most  important  government  of 
modern  times — an  honor  which  was  to  grow 
brighter  and  more  bright  as  the  decades  and  the 
centimes  rolled  on?  Should  she  aspire  to  become 
the  key-stone  of  the  great  national  arch,  which 
it  now  only  lacked  to  become  self-sustaining? 

So  great  was  the  interest  in  the  result  of  this 
session  of  the  New  Hampshire  Convention,  that 
persons  from  different  sections  of  the  state,  as 
well  as  others  from  beyond  its  borders,  flocked 
to  Concord,  and,  filling  the  wide  galleries  of  the 
old  meeting-house  from  day  to  day,  watched  the 
proceedings  with  breathless  interest.  Gen.  Sul- 
livan, John  Langdon,  then  governor-elect  of  the 
state,  Judge  Livermore,  supported  by  the  fifty 
and  odd  members  in  sympathy  with  them,  were 
not   the   men  to  neglect   a  grand  opportunity. 


SECOND    SESSION.  39 

The  opponents  of  the  Constitution,  led  by  Joshua 
Atherton,  bnt  less  ably  supported  than  were  the 
leaders  of  the  Federalists,  were  active,  strong, 
and  determined.  A  contest,  to  be  as  valiantly 
fought  as  its  issue  proved  glorious,  now  began, 
and  God  was  doubtless  invoked  to  aid  the  right. 

Wednesday,  June  18th.  The  first  day  of  the 
Convention  was  occupied  in  the  settlement  of 
disputed  claims  to  seats,  and  in  a  general  dis- 
cussion of  the  Constitution. 

Thursday,  June  19th.  The  second  day  was 
mainly  devoted  to  a  general  discussion  similar 
to  that  of  the  day  before. 

Friday,  June  20th.  During  the  forenoon  of 
the  third  day,  a  committee  of  fifteen,  consisting 
of  John  Langdon  of  Portsmouth,  Mr.  Bartlett,1 
Joseph  Badger  of  Gilmanton,  John  Sullivan 
of  Durham,  Joshua  Atherton  of  Amherst, 
Thomas  Dow  of  Salem,  Benjamin  Bellows  of 
Walpole,  Benjamin  West  of  Charlestown,  Sam- 
uel Livermore  of  Holderness,  Francis  Worcester 
of   Plymouth,   Abel    Parker    of  Jaffrey,    John 

1  There    were    two    Bartletts  Nottingham.     The   records    do 

in   the  Convention,   vjz.,    Hon.  not  indicate  which  of  these  was 

Josiah     Bartlett    of    Kingston,  a  member  of  this  committee.  It 

and   Thomas  Bartlett,  Esq.,  of  was  probably  the  former. 


40  SECOND    SESSION. 

Pickering  of  Portsmouth.,  Mr.  Smith,1  William 
Hooper  of  Madbury,  and  Charles  Barrett  of 
New  Ipswich,  were  appointed  "  to  consider  and 
report  upon  such  articles  as  they  shall  think 
proper  to  be  proposed  as  amendments  to  the 
Federal  Constitution,  and  lay  the  same  before 
this  Convention." 

At  the  afternoon  session,  Mr.  Langdon,  for  the 
committee,  made  a  report  recommending  twelve 
amendments.2  This  report  was  accepted,  and 
the  amendments  were  adopted  by  the  Conven- 
tion. Mr.  Atherton  then  moved  "that  this 
Convention  ratify  the  proposed  Constitution, 
together  with  the  amendments,  but  that  said 
Constitution  do  not  operate  in  New  Hampshire 
without  said  amendments,"  and  his  motion  was 
seconded  by  Mr.  Parker. 

This  motion  of  Mr.  Atherton's  marks  the  be- 
ginning of  the  final  struggle.  It  proved  sharp, 
brief,  and  conclusive.  The  Federalists  saw 
instantly  that  the  adoption  of  Mr.  Atherton's 
motion  was  tantamount  to  a  rejection  of  the  Con- 
stitution by  Xew  Hampshire,  and  would  be  fatal 

1  Neither   does   it   appear   by  designated   to   serve  upon  this 

the  Journal  whether  Col.  Eben-  committee.     It  was  most  likely 

ezer  Smith  of  Meredith,  or  Mr.  the  former. 

Jonathan  Smith  of  Loudon,  was  2  See  page  49. 


SECOND    SESSION.  41 

to  all  their  hopes.  After  some  debate,  Mr.  Liv- 
ermore,  who  was  as  clear-headed  and  vigilant  as 
he  was  ready  and  earnest,  made  a  motion,  which 
was  seconded  by  Mr.  Bartlett,  "  to  postpone  the 
motion  made  by  Mr.  Atherton,  to  make  way  for 
the  following  motion,  viz.,  That  in  case  the  Con- 
stitution be  adopted,  that  the  amendments  re- 
ported by  the  committee  be  recommended  to 
congress — which  motion  of  Mr.  Atherton  being 
postponed,  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning."1 

This  was  a  test  vote,  and  indicated  clearly  the 
feeling  of  the  Convention.  The  majority,  though 
small,  was  unmistakably  for  ratification.  But 
Mr.  Atherton  and  his  friends  were  not  yet  sat- 
isfied, and  the  contest  was  to  continue  a  little 
longer. 

Saturday,  June  21.  Upon  the  reassembling 
of  the  Convention,  the  unfinished  debate  of  the 
day  before  was  resumed.  Pending  this,  Mr. 
Atherton  moved  "  that  the  Convention  adjourn 
to  some  future  day."  Mr.  Hooper  seconded  the 
motion,  but  it  was  negatived  by  the  Convention. 
Thereupon  a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Liver- 
more,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Langdon,  "  that  the 

1  Prov.  State  Papers,  vol.  10,  p.  18. 


42  SECOND    SESSION. 

main  question  be  now  put  for  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution."  The  supreme  moment  had  now 
come.  As  the  roll-call  proceeded,  Messrs. 
Langdon,  Pickering,  Long,  Gilman,  Blanchard, 
Adams,  Weeks,  Goss,  Present,  Thurston,  Top- 
pan,  Langdon  of  Hampton  Falls,  Wiggin,  Fogg, 
Rogers,  T.  Bartlett,  Chadwick,  Gray,  Glidden, 
Calfe,  Bettan,  Moody,  Green,  Sullivan,  Carr, 
Hale,  Bedee,  Shannon,  Wilkins,  Moras,  Gerrish, 
West,  Shepherd,  Hall,  WMtcomb,  Chamberlain, 
Temple,  Bellows,  Chase,  Griffin,  Kimball,  Liv- 
ermore,  J.  Bartlett,  Ranney,  Chesley,  Hall, 
Dakin,  Abbot,  Worster,  Crawford,  Johnson, 
Freeman,  Payne,  Simpson,  Patterson,  Young, 
and  Weeks,  answered  Yea; — 57  Yeas. 

Messrs.  Runnels,  McMurphy,  B.  Clough,  J. 
Clough,  Sias,  Smith,  Emery,  Fifield,  Chase, 
Sleeper,  B.  Stone,  Thomas  Dow,  Steward, 
Palmer,  Harper,  Badger,  Hooper,  Austin,  Page, 
Cummings,  D.  Bixby,  Hunt,  Taylor,  Dole, 
Page,  Kindrick,  Atherton,  Barrett,  T.  Bixby, 
Jones,  Cragin,  Cochran,  Jona.  Dow,  Green, 
Bean,  Gaskill,  Parker,  Harvey,  Thomas,  M. 
Stone,  Remmelee,  Grout,  True,  Penniman, 
Tainter,  Winch,  Hutchins,  answered  ^N"ay; — 47 
Nays. 


SECOND    SESSION. 


43 


And  Messrs.  Daniels,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Web- 
ster, and  Jonathan  Smith,  marked  in  Journal  as 
present,  did  not  vote;1 — 4.     Thus  the  Federal 


1  Where  these  four  gentlemen 
were  at  the  time  the  vote  was 
taken,  or  why  they  did  not  vote, 
we  are  unable  to  say.  There 
is  a  pretty  well  authenticated 
tradition  that  a  certain  prom- 
inent Federalist  of  Concord 
gave  a  dinner  party  on  the  last 
day  of  the  session,  at  which  sev- 
eral members,  reckoned  as  op- 
posed to  ratification,  were  pres- 
ent, and  discussing  the  dinner, 
when  the  final  vote  was  taken. 

The  following  letter  from 
Hon.  G.  W.  Nesmith  throws 
light  upon  the  course  taken  on 
this  occasion  by  Col.  Ebenezer 
"Webster : 

August  25,  1888. 

Friend  Walker  :  I  send 
down  to  you  such  information 
as  I  have  in  relation  to  Judge 
Ebenezer  Webster,  who  acted 
as  a  delegate  from  Salisbury  in 
the  Convention  of  1788,  called 
to  ratify  the  United  States  Con- 
stitution. The  records  I  fur- 
nish are  authentic.  The  state- 
ment as  to  the  conduct  of  Judge 
Webster,  in  declining  to  vote 
for  the  ratification  of  the  Con- 
stitution, is  founded  upon  tradi- 
tion, and  is,  of  course,  made, 
subject  to  some  doubt. 


At  a  town-meeting  holden  on 
the  16th  day  of  February,  A.  D. 
1788,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Webster 
was  chosen  moderator  of  said 
meeting. 

"  Voted  to  choose  a  Delegate 
to  meet  in  Convention  at  Exe- 
ter to  consult  or  take  in  consid- 
eration the  Constitution  as  pro- 
posed by  the  Federal  Conven- 
tion. 

"Ebenezer  Webster  was  ap- 
pointed Delegate. 

"  Proceeded  to  choose  a  Com- 
mittee to  consult  and  advise 
with  said  Delegate  in  relation 
to  the  proposed  Convention. 
Joseph  Bean,  Esq.,  Jonathan 
Fifield,  Jonathan  Craus  Capt. 
Luke  Wilder,  John  Collins,  Ed- 
ward Eastman,  Ensign  John  C. 
Gale,  Capt.  Robt.  Smith,  Leon- 
ard Judkins,  Deacon  Jacob 
True,  John  Smith,  Lt.  Bean, 
Lt.  Jos.  Severance  were  chosen 
said  Committee." 

The  aforesaid  committee  was 
selected  from  the  early  and  in- 
fluential settlers  of  Salisbury, 
and  were  the  neighbors  and 
friends  of  Capt.  Webster.  The 
Convention  met  in  February  at 
Exeter,  and  after  a  long  debate 
came   to   no  decisive  vote :  ad- 


44 


SECOND    SESSION. 


Constitution  was  ratified  by  New  Hampshire  by 
a  majority  of  ten  votes. 

A  local  analysis  of  this  vote  may  be  interest- 
ins:.  A  division  of  the  state  into  northern  and 
southern  sections  by  a  line  running  along  the 
south  shore  of  Winnepesaukee  lake  and  contin- 
uing; west  to  Connecticut  river,   and   a  further 


journed  to  meet  at  Concord  in 
the  following  month  of  June. 
A  short  time  before  the  Con- 
vention met  at  Concord,  Judge 
Webster  had  an  interesting  in- 
terview with  his  committee  at 
Salisbury,  when  the  merits  and 
demerits  of  the  Constitution 
were  discussed.  Our  informa- 
tion is  derived  from  an  intelli- 
gent son  of  one  of  that  commit- 
tee. He  remarked  that  Judge 
Webster  favored  the  adoption 
of  the  U.  S.  Constitution,  as  it 
offered  many  advantages  over 
the  confederacy,  and  cured  many 
of  the  defects  of  that  form  of 
government.  Moreover,  Wash- 
ington, in  whom  he  had  im- 
plicit confidence,  had  labored 
hard  to  bring  it  into  existence, 
and  he  was  willing  to  trust  to 
his  wise  counsels  and  action 
always.  But  the  opinion  of  the 
Advisory  Committee,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  them,  was  adverse  to 
the  new  Constitution.  The 
strongest  and  leading  argument 
urged    against    it  was    derived 


from  the  fact  that  the  Constitu- 
tion sanctioned  or  tolerated  hu- 
man slavery.  Hon.  Jos.  Ather- 
ton,  of  Amherst,  had  used  this 
argument  in  opposition  to  its 
adoption  with  much  force  and 
effect.  It  was  difficult  to  meet 
and  overcome  the  power  and 
influence  of  his  reasoning  on 
this  topic,  when  it  was  in  close 
union  and  deep  sympathy  with 
the  great  majority  of  the  North- 
ern people.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  we  find,  according  to  the 
Records  of  the  Convention,  that 
Judge  Webster  did  not  vote 
at  all,  when  the  final  vote  of 
delegates  was  taken  in  Conven- 
tion. We  do  find  him  a  strong 
supporter  of  the  Constitution 
after  its  adoption,  and  early  one 
of  the  electors  of  Washington, 
appointed  by  the  people  of  this 
state,  to  the  presidency.  Mr. 
Webster  was  state  senator,  electa 
ed  by  the  people  of  Hillsborough 
county  in  1786-90. 
Truly  yours, 

Geo.  W.  Nesmith. 


SECOND    SESSION".  45 

division  of  the  latter  into  south-eastern  and 
south-western  sections  by  Merrimack  river,  will 
render  such  an  analysis  easy. 

The  votes  cast  by  delegates  were, — 

From  the  south-eastern,  48 


For  the  Constitution, 

30 

Against  it, 

18 

Majority  for  it, 

12 

From  the  south-western, 

42 

For  the  Constitution, 

16 

Against  it, 

26 

Majority  against  it, 

10 

From  the  northern, 

14 

For  the  Constitution, 

11 

Against  it, 

3 

Majority  for  it,  8 

The  south-eastern  section  comprised  the  old- 
est part  of  ~New  Hampshire:  its  interests  were, 
to  some  extent,  commercial,  and  many  parts  of 
it  were  in  near  proximity  to  the  most  frequented 
lines  of  travel  to  other  states.  Here  the  provi- 
sions of  the  Constitution  were  best  understood, 


46  SECOND    SESSION. 

and  the  necessity  of  a  national  government  of 
enlarged  powers  was  most  strongly  felt.  Its 
vote,  therefore,  causes  no  surprise. 

The  towns  of  the  south-western  section,  for 
the  most  part  off  the  general  lines  of  travel, 
whose  settlements  were  more  recent,  and  whose 
people  were  devoted  almost  entirely  to  agricult- 
ure, felt  less  the  want  of  a  vigorous  general 
government  than  did  their  neighbors  across  the 
Merrimack.  Their  vote,  therefore,  awakens  lit- 
tle surprise.1 

Bnt  it  is  surprising  that  the  northern  section, 
by  far  the  most  remote,  and  the  newest,  which 
felt  but  faintly  the  pulsations  of  outside  opin- 
ion, should,  out  of  a  total  vote  of  only  fourteen, 
have  given  a  majority  for  the  Constitution  less 
by  only  two  than  that  of  the  whole  state.  This 
fact  was  doubtless  very  largely  due  to  the  great 
influence  of  Judge  Livermore.  It  was  his  sec- 
tion, and  his  neighbors  naturally  followed  his 
lead  in  the  Convention. 

If  we  examine  the  vote   on  ratification  with 


XA  recent  writer  has  remarked  be  found  that  most  of  the  oppo- 

that  if  a  line  be  drawn  through  sition  to  the  Constitution  came 

the  original  thirteen  states  par-  from  the  section  west  of  it,  and 

allel  to  and   fifty  miles   distant  its   greatest  support  from  that 

from  the  Atlantic  coast,  it  will  east  of  it. 


SECOND    SESSION.  47 

reference  to  the  whole  population  of  the  state, 
assuming  this  to  be  the  same  as  shown  two  years 
afterwards  by  the  census  of  1790,  from  which  it 
could  not  greatly  vary,  it  will  appear  that  the 
fifty-seven  delegates  who  voted  for  ratification 
represented  seventy-six  thousand  and  ninety- 
one  persons,  that  the  forty-seven  delegates  who 
voted  against  it  represented  fifty-seven  thousand 
six  hundred  and  forty-one,  and  that  the  four 
who  did  not  vote  represented  eight  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-seven;  or,  in  other 
words,  that  of  the  population  represented  in  the 
final  vote,  not  quite  fifty-seven  per  cent,  was 
carried  for  the  support  of  the  Constitution,  and 
a  little  over  forty-three  per  cent,  against  it. 
By  counties  it  stood  as  follows: 


For. 

Against. 

Rockingham, 

26,728 

14,252 

Strafford, 

12,812 

9,893 

Hillsborough, 

8,730 

19,819 

Cheshire, 

15,621 

12,405 

Grafton, 

12,200 

1,272 

76,091 

57,641 

CHAPTEK   VI. 


CLOSING   WOEK    OF    THE    CONVENTION. 


The  formal  announcement  to  Congress  of  its 
action  oy  the  Convention.  The  leaders  of  the 
two  parties. 

The  only  business  now  remaining'  was  for  the 
Convention  to  prepare  a  formal  announcement 
of  its  action,  to  be  transmitted  to  the  congress 
of  the  United  States.  By  whom  this  was  to  be 
drafted,  whether  by  the  officers  of  the  Conven- 
tion or  by  a  committee  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose, the  Journal  does  not  say.  It  simply  re- 
cords the  communication,  which  was  as  follows: 

STATE    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

In  Convention  of  the  Delegates  of  the  People  of  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  June  21st,  1788  :— 

The  Convention  having  impartially  discussed  and 
fully  considered  the  Constitution  for  the  United  Stater, 
of  America,  reported  to  Congress  by  the  Convention  of 
Delegates  from  the  United  States  of  America,  and  sub- 
mitted to  us  by  a  Resolution  of  the  General  Court  of 


CLOSING    WORK.  49 

said  State  passed  the  fourteenth  day  of  December  last 
past,  and  acknowledging  with  grateful  hearts  the  Good- 
ness of  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Universe  in  affording 
the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  the  course  of  his 
Providence,  an  opportunity,  deliberately  and  peaceably, 
without  fraud  or  surprise,  of  entering  into  an  explicit 
and  solemn  compact  with  each  other,  by  assenting  to 
and  ratifying  a  new  Constitution,  in  order  to  form  a 
more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defence,  promote 
the  general  welfare  and  secure  the  blessings  of  Liberty 
to  themselves  and  their  posterity,  Do  in  the  name  and 
in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
assent  to  and  ratify  the  said  Constitution  for  the  United 
States  of  America ;  and  as  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Con- 
vention, that  certain  amendments  and  alterations  in  the 
said  Constitution  would  remove  the  fears  and  quiet  the 
apprehensions  of  many  of  the  good  people  of  this  State, 
and  more  effectually  guard  against  an  undue  adminis- 
tration of  the  federal  Government,  the  Convention  do 
therefore  recommend  that  the  following  alterations  and 
provisions  be  introduced  into  the  said  Constitution : 

First,  That  it  be  explicitly  declared  that  all  powers 
not  expressly  and  particularly  delegated  by  the  afore- 
said Constitution,  are  reserved  to  the  several  States  to 
be  by  them  exercised. 

Secondly,  That  there  shall  be  one  Representative  to 
every  thirty  Thousand  persons  according  to  the  Census 
mentioned  in  the  Constitution,  until  the  whole  number 
of  Representatives  amounts  to  two  hundred. 

Thirdly,  That  Congress  do  not  exercise  the  power 
vested  in  them  by  the  fourth  Section  of  the  first  Article, 
but  in  cases  when  a  State  shall  neglect   or  refuse  to 


50  CLOSING   WORK. 

make  the  regulations  therein  mentioned,  or  shall  make 
regulations  subversive  of  the  rights  of  the  people  to  a 
free  and  equal  representation  in  Congress,  nor  shall 
Congress  in  any  case  make  regulations  contrary  to  a 
free  and  equal  representation. 

Fourthly,  That  Congress  do  not  lay  direct  Taxes 
but  when  the  money  arising  from  the  impost  excise  and 
their  other  resources  are  insufficient  for  the  public  exi- 
gencies ;  nor  then,  until  Congress  shall  have  first  made 
a  requisition  upon  the  States  to  assess,  Levy  and  pay 
their  respective  proportions  of  such  requisition  agreea- 
bly to  the  census  fixed  in  the  said  Constitution,  in  such 
way  and  manner  as  the  Legislature  of  the  State  shall 
think  best ;  and  in  such  case,  if  any  State  shall  neglect, 
then  Congress  may  assess  and  Levy  such  State's  propor- 
tion, together  with  the  interest  thereon  at  the  rate  of 
six  pr.  cent  pr.  Annum  from  the  time  of  payment  pre- 
scribed in  such  requisition. 

Fifthly,  That  Congress  erect  no  company  of  Mer- 
chants with  exclusive  advantages  of  co'mmerce. 

Sixthly,  That  no  person  shall  be  tried  for  any  crime 
by  which  he  may  incur  an  infamous  punishment  or  loss 
of  life  until  he  be  first  indicted  by  a  grand  jury — except 
in  such  cases  as  may  arise  in  the  government  and 
regulation  of  the  land  and  naval  forces. 

Seventhly,  All  common  law  cases  between  citizens  of 
different  States  shall  be  commenced  in  the  Common 
Law  Courts  of  the  respective  States,  and  no  appeal  shall 
be  allowed  to  the  federal  Courts  in  such  cases,  unless 
the  sum  or  value  of  the  thing-  in  controversy  amount  to 
three  hundred  dollars. 

Eighthly,  In  civil  actions  between  citizens  of  differ- 
ent States,  every  issue  of  fact  arising  in  actions  at  com- 


CLOSING   WORK.  51 

mon  law,  shall  be  tried  by  a  juiy  if  the  parties  or  either 
of  them  request  it. 

Ninthly,  Congress  shall  at  no  time  consent  that  any 
person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the 
United  States,  shall  accept  a  title  of  nobility  or  any 
other  title  or  office,  from  any  king,  prince  or  foreign 
State. 

Tenthly,  That  no  standing  army  shall  be  kept  up  in 
time  of  peace,  unless  with  the  consent  of  three  fourths 
of  the  members  of  each  branch  of  Congress ;  nor  shall 
soldiers  in  a  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  upon  private 
houses  without  the  consent  of  the  owners. 

Eleventhly,  Congress  shall  make  no  Laws  touching 
religion  or  to  infringe  the  rights  of  conscience. 

Twelfthly,  Congress  shall  never  disarm  any  citizen, 
unless  such  as  are  or  have  been  in  actual  rebellion. 

And  the  Convention  do,  in  the  name  and  in  behalf  of 
the  people  of  this  State  enjoin  it  upon  their  Represent- 
atives in  Congress,  at  all  times,  until  the  alterations  and 
provisions  aforesaid  have  been  considered,  agreeably 
to  the  fifth  article  of  the  said  Constitution,  to  exert  all 
their  Influence  and  use  all  reasonable  and  legal  methods 
to  obtain  a  Ratification  of  the  said  alterations  and  pro- 
visions in  such  manner  as  is  provided  in  the  said  article. 

And  that  the  United  States  in  Congress  Assembled 
may  have  due  notice  of  the  assent  and  ratification  of 
the  said  Constitution  by  this  Convention : — 

It  is  Resolved,  That  the  assent  and  ratification  afore- 
said, be  engrossed  on  parchment,  together  with  the 
recommendation  and  Injunction  aforesaid,  and  with  this 
Resolution  ;  and  that  John  Sullivan  Esq1'.  President  of 
Convention,  and  John  Langdon,  Esq1'.  President  of 
the  State,  transmit  the  same  countersigned  by  the  Sec- 


52  CLOSING   WORK. 

retary  of  Convention  and  the    Secretary  of  the  State 

under  their  hands  and  seals,  to  the   United  States  in 

Congress  assembled. 

JOHN.CALFE,  Secretary. 

It  would  be  invidious,  perhaps,  to  name  any 
one  as  the  leader  in  this  Convention,  in  which 
were  gathered  so  many  of  the  prominent  members 
of  this  party.  John  Sullivan,  the  governor  of 
the  state  during  its  first  session,  was  there,  bold, 
active,  influential.  So,  too,  was  John  Langdon, 
governor  during  its  second  session.  He  was  one 
of  the  Constitution's  most  earnest  friends,  and 
contributed  the  whole  force  of  his  incessant 
efforts  and  magnetic  oratory  to  its  support.  In 
it  also  was  Judge  Livermore,  chief-justice  of  the 
superior  court,  able,  acute,  calm,  and  sagacious. 

It  would  be  fair  to  say  that  these  three  men 
formed  a  Federal  trio  in  the  Convention,  more 
influential  and  able  than  any  other  which  could 
have  been  constituted  from  its  other  members. 
And  still  further  may  it  be  said,  that  notwith- 
standing the  inestimable  services  of  their  asso- 
ciates, among  whom  were  Pickering,  Gilman, 
Bartlett,  Bellows,  and  others  of  commanding 
influence,  it  is  also  fair  to  say,  that,  in  the  vital 
struggle  of  the  last  two  days,  Judge  Livermore 


CLOSING   WORK. 


53 


was  clearly  the  leader  of  the  Federal  force  in  the 
Convention. 

Of  the  opponents  of  the  Constitution,  Joshua 
Atherton  was  undoubtedly  and  easily  the  chief. 
He  was  the  only  man  among  them  capable  of 
sustaining  anything  like  an  even  contest  with 
Judge  Livermore,  but  he  was  less  ably  sup- 
ported. Without  him  the  Anti-Federalists 
would  have  been  weak  indeed. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

SPREAD     OF     THE     NEWS     OF     RATIFICATION     BY 
THE    NINTH    STATE. 

Celebrations  and  rejoicings  at  Portsmouth,  Bos- 
ton, Salem,  Providence,  Newport,  and  else- 
ivhere. 

The  vote  on  ratification  was  taken  on  Satur- 
day, June  21,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.1  Immediately 
after  its  announcement  John  Langdon  wrote  to 
Governor  Hancock  of  Massachusetts,  "  The 
Convention  of  this  state  have  this  moment 
adopted  the  new  Constitution — Yeas,  57;  Nays, 
46." 2      On    the     same    day    he    wrote    similar 


1  They  took  care  to  insert  in 
their  record  that  their  vote  was 
taken  on  Saturday,  the  twenty- 
first  of  June,  at  one  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  that  Virginia  at 
a  later  hour  of  the  same  day 
might   not   dispute  with   thern 


the  honor  of  giving  life  to  the 
new  Constitution.  —  Bancroft's 
Hist.  Con.,  vol.  2,  p.  318.    . 

2iV.  H.  State  Papers,  vol.  10, 
p.  22. 

The  Journal  says  47  votes. 


CELEBRATIONS.  55 

letters  to  Rufus  King  and  to  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton.1 

In  anticipation  of  the  ratification  of  the  Con- 
stitution, Gen.  Sullivan  and  Gen.  Knox  had 
arranged  for  an  express  across  the  country  to 
bear  the  news  to  the  New  York  Convention, 
then  in  session  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  to  that  of 
Virginia,  at  Richmond.  The  welcome  intelli- 
gence reached  the  former  on  the  twenty-fourth, 
hut  was  not  received  by  the  latter  until  after  the 
twenty-sixth,  on  which  day,  as  the  tenth  state,  it 
passed  its  vote  of  ratification  by  a  majority  of 
ten. 

The  news  of  the  ratification  of  the  Constitu- 
tion by  the  ninth  state  was  everywhere  received 
with  demonstrations  of  delight.  "As  the  glad 
tidings  flew  through  the  land,  the  heart  of  its 
people  thrilled  with  joy  that  at  last  the  tree  of 
union  was  firmly  planted." 2 

The  following  account  of  the  celebration  in 
Portsmouth,  to  which  the  news  of  the  ratifica- 
tion gave  rise,  is  taken  almost  verbatim  from  the 
New  Hampshire  Gazette  and  General  Advertiser 
of  June  26,  1788: 

1  Bancroft's  Hist.  Con.,  vol.  2,  2 Bancroft's  Hist.  Con.,  vol.  2, 

p.  471.  p.  318. 


56 


CELEBRATIONS. 


2®=  THE  NINTH  AND  SUFFICIENT  PILLAR  RAISED.  ^®3 
'■'■Fame  claps  her  wings  and  Sounds  it  to  the  Skies.'" 


Portsmouth,  June  26.  On  Sunday  morning  last  we 
received  the  agreeable  and  interesting  intelligence  of 
the  Ratification  of  the  new  Constitution  by  the  Con- 
vention of  this  state,  whereby  we  have,  in  effect,  laid 
the  top  stone  to  the  grand  Federal  Edifice,  and 
happily  raised  the  Ninth  Pillar.  The  joy  which  this 
event  diffused  through  all  ranks  of  citizens  in  this 
Metropolis  is  hardly  conceivable  : 

"  Joy  sat  on  every  face  without  a  cloud, 
As  in  the  days  of  opening  Paradise." 

Mutual  congratulations  took  place,  and  public  thanks 
were  returned  in  all  the  churches.  It  being  Lord's  Day, 
no  other  testimonials  of  joy  took  place  until  Monday 
morning,  at  one  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  bells  rang  a 


CELEBRATIONS.  57 

joyful  peal.     Several  citizens  paraded  the  streets  with 
musick,  saluting  the  members  of  the  Convention  (who 
had    returned  from  Concord),  other   patriotic    charac- 
ters, &c. 
******* 

President  Langdon,  on  Monday  afternoon,  on  his 
arrival  at  Greenland,  from  Concord,  was  met  by  Col. 
Wentworth's  Corps  of  Independent  Horse,  Capt.  Wood- 
ward's Company  of  Artillery,  and  Col.  Hill's  Company 
of  Foot,  together  with  a  large  number  of  Gentlemen  in 
Carriages  and  on  horseback,  and  escorted  into  town. 

What  added  greatly  to  the  brilliancy  of  the  scene 
was  the  appearance  of  a  great  number  of  ladies,  whose 
smiling  countenances  bespoke  that  congeniality  of  sen- 
timent which  ever  ought  to  subsist  between  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Adam. 

Thursday  being  the  day  appointed  to  celebrate  the 
Ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire,  a  numerous  concourse  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Portsmouth  and  the  neighbouring  towns  being- 
assembled  on  the  Parade,  about  eleven  o'clock  an  armed 
ship  was  espied  from  the  State  House  bearing  down 
under  full  sail :  being  hailed  on  her  approach,  she 
proved  to  be  the  ship  Union,  Thomas  Manning,  Esq., 
Commander,  from  Concord,  out  five  days,  bound  to  the 
Federal  City,  all  well  and  in  good  spirits.  About  a 
quarter  past  eleven  she  dropt  anchor,  and  having  re- 
ceived pilot  on  board,  got  under  way  and  joined  the 
procession,  which  moved  in  the  following  order : 

A  band  of  Musick  in  an  open  coach  and  six  horses, 
decorated.  Husbandmen.  A  plough  drawn  by  nine 
yoke  of  Oxen. 

A  man  Sowing.     A  Harrow. 


58  CELEBRATIONS. 

Reapers,  Thrashers,  Mowers,  Haymakers,  each  with 
their  proper  implements. 

A  man  swingling  flax.     A  cart  gathering  in  harvest. 

Blacksmiths  and  Nailers,  with  their  forges,  anvils, 
and  sledges  at  work. 

Shipwrights  with  their  tools.     Caulkers. 

Rope  makers  with  a  spinning  wheel  and  hemp  round 
their  waists,  occupied. 

Riggers,  Mast-Makers,  Ship  Joiners,  Block  Makers. 

Mathematical  Instrument  Makers  with  an  azimuth 
compass. 

Boat  Builders  at  work  on  a  boat  nearly  completed. 

Carvers,  Painters,  Glaziers  and  Plumbers. 

Coopers  trimming  casks. 

Cullers  of  Fish.     Stowadores. 

Pilots  with  Spy  Glasses  and  Charts. 

The  Ship      ~^*0^     Union 
completely  J^^&t  rigged  and  armed 

and  manned,  under  an  easy  sail,  with  colors  flying,  ele- 
vated on  a  carriage  drawn  by  nine  horses ;  a  tenth, 
(emblematical  of  Virginia)  completely  harnessed,  led 
and  ready  to  join  the  rest. 

Ship  Captains  with  their  quadrants.    Seamen. 

Shoremen,  Truckmen,  Millers. 

Bakers,  preceded  by  a  flag  displaying  the  bakers' 
arms. 

Butchers,  Tanners,  and  Curriers. 

Cordwainers  with  their  lasts  decorated. 

Tallow  Chandlers,  Tailors,  Barbers. 

Hatters,  Housewrights,  Masons. 

Cabinet  Makers  and  Wheelwrights. 

Saddlers  and  Chaise  Trimmers. 


CELEBRATIONS.  59 

Upholsterers,  Goldsmiths,  Jewelers,  and  Silversmiths. 

Clock  and  Watchmakers. 

Copper  Smiths,  Whitesmiths,  Brass  founders. 

Tinmen,  with  nine  pillars  and  stars  on  a  pedestal. 

Potters  with  a  table  and  wheel  at  work,  nine  pillars 
erected. 

Brickmakers  burning  a  kiln,  others  moulding  bricks. 

Leather  Dressers.     Cardmakers  with  cards. 

Printers,  preceded  by  two  lads  with  open  quires  of 
printed  paper,  followed  with  cases  and  apparatus  deco- 
rated ;  Compositors  at  Work ;  Pressmen,  with  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Dearborn's  new  invented  printing  press  (named 
the  American  press),  employed  during  the  whole  proces- 
sion in  striking  off,  and  distributing  among  the  sur- 
rounding multitude,  Songs  in  celebration  of  the  Ratifi- 
cation of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire. 

MOTTO. 
"A  Government  of  Freemen  never  knows 
A  Tyrant's  shackles  on  the  Press  f  impose." 

Consuls,  Merchants,  and  Traders. 

The  boys  of  the  different  Schools  with  the  insignia  of 
their  studies,  decorated. 

The  Terrestrial  Globe  rectified  for  New  Hampshire 
(and  decorated  by  a  company  of  young  ladies  who  are 
in  the  study  of  Geography),  carried  by  two  lads  in  uni- 
form. In  the  decorations  each  state  was  distinguished ; 
New  Hampshire  in  the  Zenith,  and  Rhode  Island  on  the 
Western  horizon,  in  mourning. 

The  Masters  of  the  Schools. 

MOTTO. 
"  Where  the  bright  beams  of  FeaVral  freedom  glow, 
The  buds  of  science  in  full  beaut])  blow" 


60  CELEBEATIOXS. 

Clergy,  Physicians,  and  Surgeons. 

Sheriff,  preceded  by  his  Deputies. 

Judges  of  Common  Law  and  Admiralty  Courts. 

Clerks  of  Courts.  Gentlemen  of  the  Bar  supporting 
the  Federal  Constitution. 

The  President  of  the  State  and  President  of  the  Con- 
vention. 

Secretaries  of  the  State  and  Convention. 

Members  of  the  Convention. 

Members  of  the  Legislature. 

Treasurer  and  Commissary  General. 

Militia  Officers  in  Uniform. 

Every  profession  was  distinguished  by  some  insignia 
or  badge,  peculiar  to  it:  the  procession  moved  on 
through  all  the  principal  streets  of  the  town,  the  band 
playing,  and  singing  the  Federal  Song,  "  It  comes,  it 
comes,"  and  after  saluting  the  President  of  the  State 
and  the  President  and  members  of  the  Convention,  at 
their  respective  lodgings  with  nine  guns  each,  from  the 
ship,  the  procession  moved  on  to  Union  Hill,  where  a 
cold  collation  was  provided,  the  band  of  musick  playing 
during  the  repast,  and  the  ship  lying  to  with  a  man  at 
the  mast  head,  sent  to  spy  out  the  ship  Virginia, 
whicli  was  hourly  expected  to  join  the  rest  of  the  fleet. 

After  dinner  toasts  were  drank,  after  which  was  fired 
a  salute  of  nine  guns,  which  was  returned  by  three 
cheers,  and  immediately  after  the  firing  the  songs  were 
sung  accompanied  by  the  band.  The  Procession  then 
formed  and  returned  in  the  same  order  they  came,  and 
on  their  return  were  saluted  with  thirteen  guns  from 
the  Artillery.  On  their  arrival  at  the  State-House,  a 
federal  salute  was  fired  from  the  ship,  returned  with 
three    cheers  which  ended   the   procession.     The   ship 


CELEBRATIONS.  61 

proceeding  on  her  destined  voyage,  again  fired  a  Fed- 
eral Salute  as  she  passed  His  Excellency's  Seat. 

In  the  evening  the  State-House  was  beautifully  illu- 
minated with  nine  candles  in  each  window,  while  a  large 
company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  formed  in  a  semi- 
circle, were  entertained  by  the  band  from  the  balcony. 

Language  is  too  poor  to  describe  the  universal  jog  that 
glowed  in  every  countenance.  'Tis  enoiigh  to  say  that  the 
brilliancy  and  festivity  of  the  evening  ivere  only  equalled 
by  the  decorum  and  hilarity  of  the  day. 

The  following  was  one  of  the  songs  sung  on 
this  occasion: 

SONG. 

To  the  tune,  "  He  comes,  He  comes." 
I. 
It  comes,  it  comes  !  high  raise  the  song ! 
The  bright  procession  moves  along. 
From  pole  to  pole  resound  the  Nine, 
And  distant  worlds  the  chorus  join. 

II. 

In  vain  did  Britain  forge  the  chain, 
While  countless  squadrons  hid  the  plain, 
Hantonia,  foremost  of  the  Nine, 
Defy'd  their  force  and  took  Burgoyne. 

III. 

To  the  tune  "  Smile,  smile,  Britannia ! " 

When  Peace  resumed  her  seat, 
And  Freedom  seemed  secure, 
Our  patriot  sages  met, 
That  freedom  to  insure  : 


62  CELEBRATIONS. 

Then  every  eye  on  us  was  turned, 
And  every  breast  indignant  burned. 

IV. 

That  haughty  race  (they  said) 

All  government  despise ; 

Skilled  in  the  martial  trade, 

More  valiant  far  than  wise. 

Though  Pallas  lead  them  in  the  field, 

Her  aid  in  Council  is  withheld. 

V. 

False  charge  !  (the  Goddess  cried) 

I  made  each  hardy  son, 

Who  in  war's  purple  tide 

First  laid  the  Corner  Stone, 

His  utmost  energy  employ 

To  bring  the  Top  Stone  forth  with  joy. 

VI. 

To  the  first  tune,  "  He  comes,  fyc." 

'T  is  done,  the  glorious  fabric  's  reared  ! 
Still  be  New  Hampshire's  sons  revered  ! 
Who  fixed  its  base  in  blood  and  scars 
And  stretched  its  Turrets  to  the  stars. 

VII. 

To  the  tune,  "  When  Britons  first,  fyc." 

See  each  industrious  art  moves  on 
To  ask  protection,  praise  and  fame  ; 
The  Ploughman  by  his  tools  is  known, 
And  Vulcan,  Neptune,  join  their  claim  : 
Allow  them  all  and  wisely  prove, 
Naught  can  exist  long  without  Love. 


CELEBRATIONS.  63 

VIII. 
Love  binds  in  peace  the  universe  ; 
By  Love  Societies  combine  ; 
Love  prompts  the  poets'  rapturous  verse 
And  makes  their  humble  lays  divine  ; 
Then  Shout  for  Union,  heaven  born  dame ! 
And  crown  the  goblet  to  her  name. 

IX. 

To  the  first  tune. 
May  New  Hampshire's  Sons  in  Peace  and  War, 
Supremely  great !  both  laurels  wear, 
From  every  rival  bear  the  prize, 
Till  the  last  blaze  involves  the  skies  ! 

Nor  was  the  joy  caused  by  this  great  event 
confined  to  New  Hampshire.  The  Indei^endent 
Chronicle  and  Universal  Advertiser,  of  Boston, 
thus  speaks  of  it  in  its  issue  of  June  26,  1788 : 

THE  NINTH  PILLAR  ERECTED! 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States  shall 
he  sufficient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution, 
between  the  States  so  ratifying  the  same.     Art.  VII. 

Incipient  Magni  Procedere  Menses. 

The  arrival  of  Mr.  Reed,  on  Sunday  last,  from  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire,  with  the  news  of  the  adoption  of 
the  New  Federal  System  by  the  Convention  of  that 
State,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  Saturday  last,  diffused 
unusual  joy  through  all  ranks  in  this  Metropolis, — as  by 
this  great  event,  the  Federal  Edifice  is  reared,  and  the 
future  good  government  of  the  States  in  general  secured 
to  the  people. 


64  CELEBRATIOXS. 

The  bells  of  the  several  churches  on  Monday  morning- 
testified  to  the  pleasure  which  filled  the  breast  of  every 
citizen,  on  this  pleasing  event. 

The  inhabitants  of  Roxbury  also  testified  to  their 
extreme  pleasure  on  the  arrival  of  this  important  intel- 
ligence by  the  same  demonstrations  of  joy. 

There  were  similar  celebrations  at  Salem,  Prov-, 
idenee,  Newport,  and  elsewhere.  That  at  Salem 
was  very  like  the  one  at  Portsmouth,  and  consisted 
of  a  procession  of  military  companies  and  bands 
of  tradesmen,  which  was  followed  in  the  evening- 
by  a  dinner  and  toasts  at  the  Sim  tavern.  The 
editor  of  the  Salem  Mercury  adorned  his  account 
of  it  with  the  usual  line  of  columns  and  some  of 
his  best  Latin.  In  met,  the  poetry  and  Latin 
which  some  of  these  occasions  called  forth  are 
found,  upon  examination,  to  have  formed  one  of 
the  leading  characteristics  of  their  glowing  re- 
ports of  them. 


CHAPTER    Till. 

THE    OLD   NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE    IN    CONCORD. 

Frame.  Raising.  Dimensions.  Location.  Seats. 
Proprietors.  Bow  Controversy.  Completion. 
Pews.  Pulpit.  Gallery.  Singing- Seats. 
Horse-Bloclc.     Sale  of  Pews. 

The  old  North  Meeting-House  in  Concord, 
in  which  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  by 
New  Hampshire  took  place,  was  for  a  hundred 
and  nineteen  years  a  conspicuous  object  of  inter- 
est. It  marked  the  centre  of  the  central  town 
of  the  state.  From  it  radiated,  as  did  once  from 
imperial  Rome,  important  roads  northward  and 
southward,  eastward  and  westward.  From  it 
was  reckoned  the  distances  to  surrounding 
towns.  It  was  not  only  a  place  for  divine  wor- 
ship, but  for  many  years  a  town-house  as  well, 
in  which  elections  were  held  and  municipal  busi- 
ness was  transacted.     In  it  at  times  the  General 


66  old  xokth  meeting-hottse. 

Court  held  its  sessions,  and,  even  after  the  erec- 
tion of  the  state-house  in  1816,  upon  assembling, 
its  members  walked  to  it  in  procession  that  they 
might  listen  to  the  annual  Election  Sermon  de- 
livered from  its  pulpit. 

Its  tall  spire,  peculiar  form,  and  unusual  size 
attracted  the  notice  of  visitors  to  the  state  capi- 
tal. But  the  met  that  within  its  consecrated 
walls  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
ratified  by  Xew  Hampshire  as  the  ninth  state, 
gave  to  it  its  most  important  interest.  Its  asso- 
ciation with  that  great  act  has  rendered  it  mem- 
orable, and  justifies  this  effort  to  preserve  some 
of  the  most  important  items  of  its  history. 

Its  predecessor,  the  first  meeting-house  of 
Concord,  was  of  logs.  For  twenty-five  years  it 
answered  well  the  three-fold  purpose  of  for- 
tress, town-house,  and  sanctuary;  but  when,  at 
length,  as  time  passed  on,  the  population  of  the 
town  had  so  far  increased  as  to  imperatively 
demand  a  larger  meeting-house,  a  new  one  was 
erected  (1751)  upon  the  spot  now  occupied  by 
the  "Walker  school-house.  Its  frame,  mostly  of 
oak,  was  composed  of  timbers  of  great  size,  and 
very  heavy.  The  raising,  commenced  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  June,  occupied  a  large  number  of 


OLD   NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE.  67 

men  for  three  days.  The  good  women  of  the 
parish  asserted  their  uncontested  rights  on  the 
occasion,  and  afforded  such  refreshments  as  the 
nature  of  the  arduous  work  required.1 

This  building  was  one  of  great  simplicity,  and 
entirely  nnornamented.  It  was  sixty  feet  long, 
forty-six  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high.  It 
faced  the  south,  on  which  side  was  a  door  open- 
ing upon  an  aisle  extending  through  the  middle 
of  the  house  straight  to  the  pulpit.  The  seats 
were  rude  benches  placed  upon  each  side  of  it, 
those  upon  the  west  being  assigned  to  the 
women,  and  those  upon  the  east  to  the  men. 
The  deacons  sat  upon  a  seat  in  front  of  the  pul- 
pit and  faced  the  congregation.  A  marked 
attention  had  been  shown  the  minister  by  build- 
ing for  him  a  pew — the  only  one  in  the  house. 
This  simple  structure  was  without  gallery, 
porch,  steeple,  or  chimney. 

As  the  town  had  at  this  date,  owing  to  its  con- 
troversy with  Bow,  no  organized  government, 
it  was  built  by  a  company  of  individuals,  desig- 
nated "  The  Proprietors  of  the  Meeting-House," 
and  not  by  the  town,  as  was  usually  the  case. 
Its    erection,   under   these    circumstances,  is  an 

1Bouton's  History  of  Concord,  p.  230. 


68 


OLD   XOBTH    MEETXXG-HOUSE. 


important  fact,  showing  conclusively  the  resolute 
character  of  its  citizens,  for  at  this  time  all  the 
fair  fields  which  they  had  wrested  from  the  wil- 
derness were  unjustly  claimed  by  persons,  many 
of  them  of  high  political  and  social  influence  in 
the  province,  who,  through  the  agency  of  the 
courts,  were  seeking  to  seize  them.1 


1  The  Bow  controversy,  which 
lasted  about  twelve  years,  in- 
volved the  title  to  more  than 
three  fourths  of  the  entire  ter- 
ritory of  Concord.  Its  inhabi- 
tants held  this  under  a  grant  of 
the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  made  in  January, 
1725.  By  the  settlement  of  the 
boundary  line  between  Massa- 
chusetts and  Xew  Hampshire, 
in  1740,  it  became  a  part  of  the 
latter  province. 

Some  nine  years  afterwards, 
by  virtue  of  a  grant  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  Xew  Hampshire, 
made  in  May,  17'27,  a  company, 
denominated  the  Proprietors  of 
Bow,  sought  by  writs  of  eject- 
ment to  dispossess  the  owners, 
after  a  peaceable  possession  of 
more  than  twenty  years.  The 
parcels  sued  for  were  purposely 
so  small  as  to  preclude  appeals 
to  the  higher  courts  in  England, 
the  object  being  to  so  harass 
the  occupants  as  to  force  them 
either   to   an    abandonment   of 


their  lands,  or  to  a  second  pur- 
chase of  them  from  the  Bow 
claimants. 

The  occupants  regarded  the 
whole  scheme  as  a  base  swindle, 
and  at  once  determined  to  resist 
its  consummation.  Defeated  in 
every  case  brought  before  the 
provincial  courts,  then  largely 
controlled  by  these  claimants, 
they  dispatched  their  minister, 
the  Rev.  Timothy  Walker,  as 
their  agent,  to  London,  to  seek 
redress  of  their  wrongs  in  the 
home  courts.  For  this  purpose 
he  went  to  England  no  less  than 
three  times,  once  in  the  fall  of 
1753,  once  in  1755,  and  once 
in  1762.  On  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  December  of  this  last 
year  he  obtained  of  the  King 
in  Council  a  decree  reversing 
the  decisions  of  the  provincial 
courts  and  establishing  the 
validity  of  their  title, — a  decree 
as  just  as  the  claims  which  it 
annihilated  were  wicked. 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE.  69 

Indeed,  it  was  only  after  a  long  and  expensive 
controversy  of  thirteen  years,  that  the  rightful 
proprietors  finally  obtained,  in  1762,  at  the  Court 
of  St.  James,  a  decision  seeming  to  them  the 
peaceable  possession  of  their  homes.  A  new 
spirit  was  infused  into  their  hearts  by  this  re- 
moval, by  royal  command,  of  the  clouds  which 
had  so  long  hung  over  them.  This  was  mani- 
fested in  the  increased  enterprise  everywhere 
apparent,  and  improvements,  long  delayed,  were 
immediately  commenced,  now  that  they  felt  qui- 
eted in  the  possession  of  their  estates.1  It  also 
appeared,  some  years  later,  in  the  general  desire 
to  finish  the  meeting-house,  which  had  hitherto 
been  but  partially  completed. 

Measures  were  instituted  as  early  as  1772  for 

1  The  diary  of  the  pastor  for  "  May  2.     Set  out  eight  elm 

1764,  the  year  succeeding  that  trees  about  my  house." 
of  his  last  return  from  England,  "  May  5.     Sowed  a  bushel  of 

affords  marked  evidence  of  this  barley  and  more  than  a  bushel 

fact.     In  it  he  says, —  of  flax  seed  and  harrowed  it  in. 

"  April  20.  Set  out  20  apple  N".  B.— 26th  of  March  set  out  63 
trees  in  the  Island  orchard  and  young  apple  trees  in  a  row,  be- 
in  ye  Joel  orchard."  ginning  next  ye  road ;  then  set 

"  April  23.    Bot  40  apple  trees  out  two  young  plum  trees ;  then 

of  Philip   Eastman,   brot.  ym.  5  of  best  winter  apples ;  then  9 

home  and  set  ym.  out."  of  the  spice  apple,  making  79 

"April  24.     Set  out  about  60  in  ye  whole." 
young  apple  trees  in  ye  house 
lot." 


70  OLD    NORTH   MEETLN"G-HOUSE. 

the  purchase  of  the  Proprietors'  interest  by  the 
town,  but  the  distractions  of  the  Revolution  so 
absorbed  the  time  and  thoughts  of  the  people 
that  nothing  conclusive  was  done.1  Seven  years 
afterwards,  however  (1779) ,  the  town  voted  "  to 
relincpiish  the  pew  ground  to  any  number  of 
persons  who  would  finish  the  meeting-house  and 
add  a  porch  and  the  value  of  another  porch."  It 
also  voted  "  to  be  at  the  expense  of  building  the 
steeple,  excepting  the  cost  of  a  porch."  Two 
years  later,  on  the  ninth  day  of  July,  1781,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  secure  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  meeting-house  lot  by  the  purchase 
of  additional  land  upon  the  south  of  it. 

The  next  year  (March  5,  1782)  another  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  negotiate  with  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  meeting-house  for  the  purchase  of 
their  interest  therein.2   The  parish  accepted  their 

1  March  3,  1772.  "  Voted  that  choose  a  committee  to  treat 
John  Kimball,  Henry  Martin  with  the  proprietors  of  the 
and  John  Blanchard  be  a  com-  meeting-house  and  see  upon 
mittee  to  treat  with  the  proprie-  what  terms  they  will  relinquish 
tors   of   the   meeting-house,    or  the  same  to  the  parish." 

such  a  committee  as  they  shall  a  y0ted    that    Peter    Green, 

choose,  in  order  to  purchase  said  Esq.,    Capt.    Benjamin    Emery 

house  for  the   use  of  the  par-  an(j   Mr.   Benjamin    Hanniford 

ish."—  Town    Records,    vol.    2,"  be  a  committee  for  the  purpose 

P-  31.  aforesaid." — Town  Records,  vol. 

2  March  5,  1782.     "Voted  to  2,  p.  112. 


OLD    NOETH   MEETING-HOUSE.  71 

report,  and  a  month  later,  April  8,  1782,  in 
accordance  with  its  recommendations,  the  pur- 
chase was  made.1 

In  June  of  this  year  the  parish  decided  to 
finish  the  house,  and  Col.  Timothy  Walker,  Jr., 
Robert  Harris,  and  Lieut.  Joseph  Hall  were 
constituted  a  committee  for  that  purpose.2  The 
inside  was  completed  in  1783,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  next  year  the  outside  was  finished. 

It  had  an  entrance  porch  at  each  end,  twelve 
feet  square  and  two  stories  high,  containing  a 
flight  of  stairs,  in  three  runs,  giving  access  to 
the  galleries.  The  east  porch  was  surmounted 
by  a  belfry  and  steeple,  upon  the  spire  of  which 
stood,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  feet  from 
the  ground,  a  gilded  weather-cock,  of  copper, 
four  feet  high,  and  weighing  fifty-six  pounds.  It 
had  glass  eyes  and  a  proudly  expanded  tail.  It 
always  looked  ready  for  a  fight,  ecclesiastical  or 
civil.     The  inhabitants  thought  much  of  it,  and 

1  For  a  copy  of  the  deed,  see      tee   to    provide    materials   and 
Bouton's    History   of    Concord,       finish  said  house." 
p.  285.  "  Voted   that   the   committee 

consist  of  three." 

2 June  17,  1782.     "Voted   to  "Voted    that    Col.    Timothy 

finish  the  meeting-house  in  said      Walker,  Mr.  Robert  Harris  and 

Concord."  Mr.  Joseph  Hall  be  a  committee 

"  Voted  to  choose  a  commit-      for   the    purpose    aforesaid." — 

Town  Record*,  vol.  2,  p.  114. 


72  OLD    ]STOETH   MEETESTG-HOTTSE. 

consulted  its  movements,  in  divining  the  weather, 
with  almost  as  much  confidence  as  do  we  the 
daily  telegrams  from  the  meteorological  office  at 
Washington. 

The  posts  of  this  house,  which  were  but  par- 
tially concealed,  were  of  white  oak,  and  revealed 
plainly  the  marks  of  the  hewer's  broad-axe. 
They  were  twenty-eight  feet  long,  twelve  inches 
square  at  the  bottom,  and  twelve  by  eighteen 
inches  at  the  top.  Those  of  the  bell  tower  were 
of  pine,  sixty-four  feet  long  and  eighteen  inches 
square.  Two  pitch-pine  timbers,  each  sixty  feet 
long  and  eighteen  inches  square,  pinned  to  the 
cross-beams,  confined  this  tower  to  the  main 
body  of  the  building.  The  belfry  roof  was  sup- 
ported upon  graceful  arches,  and  covered  with 
unpainted  tin.  The  bell-deck  was  surrounded  by 
a  handsome  railing,  and  upon  the  belfry  ceiling 
was  painted,  in  strong  colors,  the  thirty-two 
points  of  the  compass,  of  sufficient  size  to  be 
easily  read  from  the  ground.  The  walls  were 
clapboarded,  and  surmounted  by  a  handsome 
cornice. 

To  the  lower  floor  there  were  three  entrances, 
one,  already  mentioned,  upon  the  south  side,  and 
one  from  each  porch.     Over  the  two  last  Avere 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE .  73 

entrances  to  the  gallery.  There  were  two  aisles 
besides  that  before  alluded  to.  One  extended 
from  the  east  to  the  west  door,  and  the  other 
from  one  door  to  the  other,  between  the  wall 
pews  upon  the  east,  south,  and  west  sides  of  the 
house  and  the  body  pews. 

The  pews  were  square,  and  inclosed  by  pan- 
nelled  sides,  surmounted  by  turned  balusters 
supporting  a  moulded  rail.  The  seats  were 
without  cushions,  and  furnished  with  hinges, 
that  they  might  be  turned  up  when  the  congre- 
gation stood,  as  it  did,  during  the  long  prayer. 
At  the  close  of  this  they  all  went  down  with  one 
emphatic  bang,  in  response  to  the  minister's 
"Amen!" 

The  pulpit,  which  was  a  huge,  square  struct- 
ure, and  had  a  semi-circular  projection  in  front, 
was  constructed  of  panelling,  and  loomed  up 
like  Mount  Sinai,  in  awful  majesty,  high  above 
the  congregation.  Behind  it  was  a  broad  win- 
dow of  three  divisions,  above  which  projected 
forwards  a  ponderous  sounding-board,  of  elab- 
orate workmanship,  as  curious  in  design  as  it 
was  innocent  of  utility. 

The  pulpit  was  reached  by  a  flight  of  stairs 
upon  the  west  side,  ornamented  by  balusters  of 


74 


OLD    XOETH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


curious  patterns,  three  of  which,  each  differing 
from  the  others,  stood  upon  each  step  and  sup- 
ported the  rail.  The  bright  striped  stair  carpet, 
the  red  silk  damask  cushion  upon  which  rested 


the  big  Bible,  blazing  in  scarlet  and  gold,  were 
conclusive  evidence  that  the  worshippers  lav- 
ished upon  the  sanctuary  elegances  which  they 
denied  themselves. 


OLD   XOETII   MEETING-HOUSE.  75 

At  the  foot  of  the  pulpit  stairs  stood  a  short 
mahogany  pillar,  upon  which  on  baptismal  occa- 
sions was  placed  the  silver  font.  Just  beneath 
and  before  the  pulpit  was  the  old  men's  pew,1  to 
the  front  of  which  was  suspended  a  semi-circular 
board,  which,  raised  to  a  horizontal  position  on 
sacramental  or  business  occasions,  formed  a 
table.  A  wide  gallery,  sloping  upwards  from 
front  to  rear,  extended  the  entire  length  of  the 
east,  south,  and  west  sides  of  the  house.  Xext 
the  wall  were  square  pews  like  those  below.  In 
front  of  these  the  space  was  occupied  in  part  by 
pews  and  in  part  by  slips,  with  the  exception  of 
a  section  on  the  south  side,  immediately  in  front 
of  the  pulpit,  which  had  been  inclosed  for  the 
use  of  the  choir.  This  had  a  round  table  in  the 
centre,  upon  which  the  members  placed  their 
books,  pitch-pipe,  and  instruments  of  music.    At 

1  It  is  remembered  with  pleas-  thus  sat  in  the  "  old  men's  " 
ure  that  in  the  old  meeting-  seat,  the  following  are  distinctly 
house  the  venerable  old  men  remembered :  Reuben  Abbott, 
sat  on  a  seat  prepared  for  them  senior,  Christopher  Rowell, 
at  the  base  of  the  pulpit,  wear-  senior,  John  Shute,  Capt.  Jo- 
ing  on  their  bald  heads  a  white  Seph  Farnum,  Samuel  Good- 
linen  cap  in  summer,  and  a  red  win,  Moses  Abbott,  Reuben 
woollen  or  flannel  cap  in  winter.  Abbott,  '2d,  Nathan  Abbott, 
This  practice  continued  as  late  and  Chandler  Lovejoy.  —  Bou- 
as  1S25  and  1830.  ton's  Hist.  Concord,  p.  52!). 

Amous  the  ancient  men  who 


76  OLD   NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

a  later  date  rows  of  seats  took  the  place  of  this 
enclosure.  A  horizontal  iron  rod  was  placed 
above  the  breastwork  in  front  of  these,  from 
which  depended  curtains  of  red.  These  were 
drawn  during  the  singing,  and  concealed  the 
faces  of  the  singers  from  the  congregation.  At 
other  times  they  were  pushed  aside. 

In  the  east  gallery,  next  to  and  north  of  the 
door,  was  the  negro  pew.1  It  was  plainer  than 
the  others,  and,  at  most  services,  had  one  or 
more  sable  occupants.  Still  farther  north,  but 
at  a  later  date,  was  another  of  twice  the  ordinary 
size,  finely  upholstered,  furnished  with  chairs, 
and  carpeted.  It  belonged  to  Dr.  Peter  Renton, 
a  Scotch  physician,  who  came  to  Concord  about 
1822,  and  for  some  twenty  years  was  quite  prom- 
inent as  a  physician. 

Such  was  the  old  Xorth  Meeting-House  when 
finished  in  1784,  with  but  few,  if  any,  exceptions 
the  best  in  Xew  Hampshire. 

1  The    number    of   slaves   in  Hillsborough.  (?) 

Xew  Hampshire   in    1790  was,  Strafford,  23. 

according  to  the  census  of  that  Rockingham,  98. 

year,    one   hundred    and    fifty-  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  if  it 

eight.     These  were  distributed  be  a  fact,  that  there  were  none 

in  the  several  counties   as  fol-  in  Hillsborough  county,  which 

lows :  contained    at   that   time    more 

In  Grafton,  21.  than  one  fourth  of  the   entire 

Cheshire,  16.  population  of  the  state. 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


77 


One  object  the  town  had  in  view,  in  lavishing 
so  much  upon  it,  was  a  very  praiseworthy  desire 
to  accommodate  the  legislature,  which  met  here 
for  the  first  time  (1782)  two  years  before,  and 
was  evincing  some  disposition  to  make  Concord 
the  capital  of  the  state. 

Such  it  remained  until  1802.  It  was  the  only 
meeting-house,  and  to  it  the  families  of  all  sec- 
tions of  the  town  went  up  to  worship,  from 
Bow  line  to  the  Mast  Yard,  from  Beech  Hill  to 
Soucook  river.1 

Many  persons,    owing  to   the  want  of  good 


1  The  population  of  Concord 
in  1800  was  2052.  "  The  inter- 
mission was  short — an  hour  in 
winter  and  an  hour  and  a  half 
in  summer.  The  people  all 
stayed,  except  those  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity ;  and  hence,  as 
everybody  attended  the  same 
meeting,  a  fine  opportunity  was 
afforded  for  everybody  to  be  ac- 
quainted. Old  people  now  say 
that  they  used  to  know  every 
person  in  town.  Thus  public 
worship  greatly  promoted  social 
union  and  good  feeling  through- 
out the  whole  community. 
Whatever  new  or  interesting 
event  occurred  in  one  neigh- 
borhood, such  as  a  death,  birth, 
marriage,  or   any   accident,  be- 


came a  subject  of  conversation, 
and  thus  communication  was 
kept  up  between  the  people  of 
remote  sections,  who  saw  each 
other  on  no  other  day  than  the 
Sabbath." — Bouton's  History  of 
Concord,  p.  549. 

Capt.  Joseph  Walker,  who  at 
a  considerably  later  time  com- 
manded a  large  company  of 
cavalry,  resident  in  Concord 
and  neighboring  towns,  was  ac- 
customed to  notify  meetings  of 
his  company  by  verbal  notices 
to  such  members  as  he  happened 
to  see  at  the  meeting-house  on 
Sunday.  These  were  sufficient, 
although  many  were  not  pres- 
ent, and  some  lived  in  Canter- 
bury and  Northfield.    j.  b.  w. 


78  OLD    XOKTH   MEETTXG-HOUSE. 

roads,  or  of  carriages,  went  to  meeting  on  horse- 
back. A  man  and  woman  often  rode  double,  the 
former  upon  a  saddle  in  front,  and  the  latter 
upon  a  pillion  behind.1  Why  this  custom  was 
confined  to  married  and  elderly  persons  tradition 
does  not  say.  For  the  convenience  of  persons 
riding  thus  there  was  a  mounting-block,  near 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  meeting-house. 
This  consisted  of  a  circular  flat  stone,  eight  feet 
in  diameter,  raised  about  three  feet  from  the 
ground.  A  few  steps  led  to  the  top  of  it,  from 
which  many  of  the  early  inhabitants  easily 
mounted  their  horses  at  the  close  of  divine  ser- 
vice.    This    ancient   "horse-block,"    as    it   was 


1 "  '  Going   to   meeting,''   as    it  coarse  shoes,  carrying  a  better 

was  called,  on  the  Sabbath,  was  pair   in   hand,  with   stockings, 

for  seventy-five  years  and  more  to  change  before  entering  the 

the  universal  custom.     Elderly  meeting-house.     The  usual  cus- 

people,  who  owned  horses,  rode  torn  of  those  west  of  Long  Pond 

double— that   is,  the  wife   with  was  to  stop  at  a  large  pine  tree 

her  husband,  seated  on  a  pillion  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  west 

behind    him,    with     her    right  of  Richard  Bradley's,  where  the 

arm  encircling  his  breast.     The  boys   and  young    men   put   on 

young    people    of    both    sexes  their     shoes,    and    the    young 

went  on  foot  from  every  part  of  women  exchanged  their  coarse 

the  parish      In  summer,  young  shoes  for  a  better  pair,  drawing 

men   usually   walked  barefoot,  on  at  the  same  time  their  clean 

with     shoes    in      hand;      and  white  stockings." — Bouton'sHis- 

the  young  women  walked  with  tory  of  Concord,  p.  528. 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


79 


termed,  is  still  in  good  preservation,  and  doing- 
kindred  duty  at  the  present  time. 1 


The  expenses  incurred  in  the  completion  of 
this  meeting-house  were  met  by  an  auction  sale 
of  the  pews,  of  which  there  were  forty-seven 
upon   the   ground   floor    and  twenty-six  in  the 


1 "  On  the  west  side  of  the  old 
meeting-house  was,  and  is,  a 
horse-block,  famous  for  its  ac- 
commodations to  the  women  in 
mounting  and  dismounting  the 
horses.  It  consists  in  a  large, 
round,  flat  stone,  seven  and  a 
half  feet  in  diameter,  or  about 
twenty-two  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence, raised  about  four  feet 
high,  with  steps.  Tradition 
says  it  was  erected  at  the  in- 
stance of  the  good  wives  who 
Tode  on  pillions,  and  that  they 


agreed  to  pay  a  pound  of  butter 
apiece  to  defray  the  expense." — 
Bouton's  History  of  Concord,  p. 
530. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society 
held  on  the  13th  day  of  April, 
1S69,  this  horse-block  was  pre- 
sented to  the  writer  of  this  pa- 
per, as  appears  by  the  following 
vote  in  the  clerk's  records,  viz. : 
"  Voted  that  we  present  the 
old  Horse-Block  to  Mr.  Jos.  B. 
Walker." 


80 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


gallery.     By  this  sale  it  became  the  joint  prop- 
erty of  the  town  and  of  the  pew  owners.1 


i  March  2,  1784: 

"  Voted  to  choose  a  committee 
to  vendue  the  pews  and  finish 
the  meeting-house." 

"Voted  that  this  committee 
consist  of  three." 

"Voted  that  Capt.  Reuben 
Kimball,  Col.  Timothy  Walker 
and  Lieut.  John  Bradley  be  a 
committee  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid." 

"  Voted  to  make  an  addition 
of  two  to  the  committee  afore- 
said." 

"Voted  that  John  Kimball 
and  James  Walker  be  the  addi- 
tional committee." 

"  Voted  to  choose  a  Treasurer 
to  receive  the  notes  for  the 
pews." 


"  Voted  that  Dr.  Peter  Green 
be  Treasurer." 

"  Voted  to  choose  a  committee 
to  settle  with  Treasurer." 

"  Voted  that  this  committee 
consist  of  three." 

"Voted  that  Capt.  Benjamin 
Emery,  Peter  Green,  Esq.,  and 
Capt.  John  Roach  be  the  com- 
mittee for  the  purpose  afore- 
said." 

"  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote 
choosing  Dr.  Peter  Green,  Treas- 
urer." 

"  Voted  that  the  committee 
appointed  to  finish  the  meeting- 
house proceed  to  finish  the  out- 
side  of  the  same  the  ensuing 
summer." — Town  Records,  vol. 
2,  pp.  132  and  133. 


CHAPTEK    IX. 

THE    OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE,    CONTINUED. 

Enlargement.  Bell.  First  Bell  Ringer.  Tol- 
eration A.ct.  Sale  of  Town's  interest  in  the 
House  and  Bell.  Remodelling  of  Pews.  Occu- 
pdncy  by  the  JST.  H.  Constitutional  Convention 
of  1778  and  1791,  and  by  the  General  Court 
in  1782  and  subsequently.  Introduction  of 
Stoves.  Election  Sermons.  Abandonment  as 
a  House  of  Worship,  and  conversion  to  a 
Methodist  Theological  Seminary.  Its  de- 
struction by  fire. 

At  the  opening  of  the  present  century  the 
population  of  Concord  had  so  increased  as  to 
require  the  enlargement  of  the  meeting-house. 
At  a  meeting  holden  on  the  first  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1801,  the  town  accepted  a  plan  for  that 
purpose,  presented  by  a   committee   previously 


82 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


chosen.1  This  provided  for  an  addition  of  two 
stories  to  the  south  side.  At  the  same  time 
Richard  Ayer  and  others  were  authorized,  upon 
furnishing  suitable  bonds  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  the  work,  to  make  this  addition  at 
their  own  cost,  and  take  in  compensation  there- 
for the  new  pew  ground  thus  acquired.2 

This  addition,  which  stood  upon  two  courses 
of  hammered  granite  ashler,  was  a  semi-polygon, 
having  the  same  length  as  the  house  and  a  mid- 
dle width  of  thirty  feet.     The  ridge  lines  of  its 


1 "  Voted  to  choose  a  commit- 
tee of  seven  persons  to  propose 
a  plan  to  the  town,  viz. : — Jacob 
Abbott,  Richard  Ayer,  Paul 
Ptolfe,  William  A.  Kent,  Benja- 
min Emery,  Stephen  Ambrose, 
Abial  Virgin." 

"  Voted  to  accept  the  report 
of  the  above  committee,  which 
is  as  follows,  viz. : — '  The  com- 
mittee appointed  to  report  a 
plan  for  an  addition  to  the 
meeting-house,  report  that  a  plan 
exhibited  before  the  town,  being 
a  semi-circle  projecting  thirty 
feet  in  front  of  the  house,  and  di- 
vided into  seven  angles,  and  the 
gallery  upon  the  plan  annexed 
be  accepted,  and  that  the  own- 
ers of  pews  in  the  front  of  the 
house  below  have  their  choice 
to  remain  where  they  are  or  go 


back  to  the  wall  the  same  dis- 
tance from  the  front  door ;  and 
that  the  present  front  wall  pews 
be  placed  on  a  level  with  the 
other  body  pews,  that  the  own- 
ers of  wall  pews  in  front  of  the 
gallery  have  as  good  wall  pews 
in  front  of  the  addition.'  " 

2  "  Voted  to  choose  a  commit- 
tee of  five  to  take  bonds  of  Capt. 
Richard  Ayer  and  others  who 
came  forward  at  this  meeting, 
and  offered  to  make  the  addi- 
tion on  the  plan  exhibited  by 
the  committee  and  accepted  by 
the  town,  viz. :  Jacob  Abbott, 
John  Blanchard,  Benjn.  Eme- 
ry, John  Kimball  and  Enoch 
Brown,  the  committee,  for  the 
above  purpose." — Toicn  Records, 
vol.  2,  p.  266. 


OLD    XOETH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


83 


roof,  starting  from  a  common  point,  on  the  ridge 
of  the  old  structure,  half  way  between  its 
two  extremes,  terminated  at  the  several  angles 
of  the  cornice.  The  style  and  quality  of  the 
work  corresponded  to  that  to  which  it  was  an 
addition.  Upon  completion,  March  1,  1803,  it 
was  approved  by  the  town,  and  the  bond  of  the 
undertakers  was  surrendered.1 

The  cost  of  this  addition  was  met  by  the  sale 
of  the  new  pews,  for  which  it  afforded  room. 
A  part  of  these,  unlike  the  old  ones,  were  long 
and  narrow,  and  were  denominated  slips. 

A  few  years  later  (1809)  the  selectmen  were 
directed  to  remove  the  two  front  pews  in  the 
old  part  of  the  house,  and  have  erected  upon 
their  site  four  slips.  These,  upon  completion, 
were  sold  at  auction  for  the  sum  of  three  hun- 


1  March  1,  1803.  "  Voted  to 
accept  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  inspect  the 
building  and  finishing  the  ad- 
dition to  the  meeting-house, 
viz. :  '  We  aforesaid  committee 
having  carefully  inspected  the 
materials  made  use  of  in  the 
making  the  addition  to  and  al- 
terations in  the  meeting-house 
in  Concord  and  the  workman- 
ship in  erecting  and  finishing 
the  same,  hereby  certify  that  it 


appears  to  us  that  the  materials 
made  use  of  for  each  and  every 
part  were  suitable,  and  of  good 
quality,  and  that  the  work  is 
done  in  a  handsome,  workman- 
like manner. 

'Jacob  Abbott, 
Benjamin  Emery, 
Committee.  \  John  Blanchard, 
John  Kimball, 
Enoch  Brown." 
Concord,  June  3,  1803. 
—Town  Records,  vol.  2,  p.  276. 


84  OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

dred  and  twenty-two  dollars  and  twenty-five 
cents,  which  was  set  aside  as  the  nucleus  of  a 
fund  for  the  purchase  of  a  bell,  in  accordance 
with  a  vote  of  the  town  authorizing  this  work. 
Nearly  ten  years  before  this  (March  31,  1800) 


Plan  of  Gallery,  1803. 

the  town  had  offered,  with  a  prudence  worthy  of 
highest  admiration,  "  to  accept  of  a  bell  if  one 
can  be  obtained  by  subscription."  This  liberal 
offer  had  lain  neglected  for  nine  entire  years 
until  now,  when  private  subscriptions  increased 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE.  85 

this  nucleus  to  five  hundred  dollars,  and  the 
long  wished  for  bell  was  procured.  It  weighed 
twelve  hundred  pounds,  and  as  its  clear  tones 
sounded  up  and  down  the  valley,  the  delight  was 
universal. 

The  next  year  the  town  ordered  it  rung  three 
times  every  day,  except  Sundays,  viz.,  at  seven 
in  the  morning,  at  noon,  and  at  nine  o'clock  at 
night.  The  times  of  ringing  on  Sundays  were  to 
be  regulated  by  the  selectmen.  Four  years  later 
it  was  ordered  to  be  tolled  at  funerals,  when 
desired. 

Concord's  first  bell-ringer  was  Sherburn  Wig- 
gin.1  He  was  paid  a  salary  of  twenty-five  dol- 
lars a  year,  and  gave  a  satisfactory  bond  for  a 
faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office. 
The  prudence  of  our  fathers  is  clearly  seen  in 
the  practice  of  requiring  bonds  of  their  public 
servants,  and  of  annually  "  venduing  "  some  of 
their  less  valuable  offices  to  the  lowest  bidder 
instead  of  selling  them  to  the  highest,  as  is  said 


1  Among  Concord's  early  sex-  quently  the  appointment  of  sex- 
tons were  Sherburn  Wiggin  in  tons  was  left  to  the  selectmen. 
1810,  and  Benjamin  Emery,  Among  the  later  incumbents 
Jr.,  in  1811  and  1812,  to  whom  of  this  office  were  Peter  Osgood, 
the  bell  ringing  was  vendued,  Thomas  B.  Sargent,  and  Joseph 
as   the  lowest  bidders.     Subse-  Brown. 


86  OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

to  have  been  clone  elsewhere  in  later  days.  This 
rapid  increase  of  the  sexton's  salary  affords  a 
marked  instance  of  the  growing  extravagance  of 
the  fathers,  and  of  the  rapacionsness  of  the 
office-holders  among  them.  The  salary  of  the 
sexton  rose  rapidly  from  twenty-five  dollars  a 
year  in  1810  to  forty  dollars  in  1818 — an  alarm- 
ing increase  of  sLxty  per  cent,  in  only  eight 
years. 

Excepting  some  inconsiderable  repairs  in 
1817-18,  nothing  more  was  done  to  the  meeting- 
house for  about  thirty  years.  'An  act  of  the 
legislature,  passed  in  1819,  generally  known  as 
the  "  Toleration  Act,"  gradually  put  an  end  to 
town  ministries,  and  removed  the  support  of 
clergymen  to  the  religious  societies  over  which 
they  were  settled.i 

Two  new  societies  had  been  already  formed  in 
Concord  when  this  became  a  law,  viz.,  the  Epis- 

1  An  act  of  the  legislature  or  sums  of  money  as  they  shall 
"  regulating  towns  and  town  of-  judge  necessary  for  the  settle- 
ficers,"  passed  February  8,  1791,  ment,  maintenance  and  support 
provided  "  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  ministry." 
of  each  town  in  this  state,  qual-  A  subsequent  act,  approved 
ified  to  vote  as  aforesaid,  at  any  July  1,  1819,  repealed  this  pro- 
meeting  duly  and  legally  warn-  vision  of  the  act  of  1791,  and 
ed  and  holden  in  such  town,  left  the  support  of  the  ministry 
may,  agreeably  to  the  constitu-  to  be  provided  for  by  the  relig- 
tion,  grant  and  vote  such  sum  ious  societies  of  towns. 


OLD   ^ORTH    MEETING-HOUSE.  87 

copal  in  1817,  and  the  First  Baptist  in  1818. 
Five  years  later,  on  the  29th  July,  1824,  the 
First  Congregational  Society  in  Concord  was 
formed,  and  upon  the  resignation  of  its  third 
minister,  Dr.  McFarland,  July  11,  1824,  the 
town  ministry  in  Concord  ceased. 

This  important  change,  together  with  the 
organization  of  new  societies,  made  advisable 
the  disposal  of  the  town's  interest  in  the  meet- 
ing-honse,  meeting-honse  lot,  and  bell.1  A  com- 
mittee, appointed  March  11,  1828,  for  this  pur- 
pose, accordingly  sold  the  town's  interest  in 
these  to  the  First  Congregational  Society  in 
Concord  for  eight  hundred  dollars.2     In  consid- 

i  March    13,    1826.      "Voted,  Town's  interest  in  the 

that  William  A.  Kent,  Joseph  meeting-house,              $200.00 

Walker  and  Abel  Hutchins  be  a  Town's  interest  in  the 

committee  to  take  into  consid-  bell,                                   300.00 

eration  the   subject  relative  to  ^ 
selling  the  interest  or  right  the 

town  may  have  in  the  meeting-  March  11, 1828.   "Voted,  that 

house   to   the    First   Congrega-  Samuel  Herbert,  Benjamin  Par- 

tional  Society  in  Concord,  and  ker   and   Isaac   Eastman    be    a 

report  the  expediency  and  terms  committee  to  sell  and  convey  to 

at  the  next  town   meeting."—  the  First  Congregational  Society 

Town  Records,  vol.  3,  p.  58.  in    Concord    the    interests    the 

town  have  in  the  meeting-house, 

2  This  committee  reported  rec-  the  land  on  which  it  stands,  and 

ommending  the  sale  of  the  the  bell,  agreeably  to  the  report 

Land   on   which   the  of  the  committee  to  the  town  at 

house  stands,  for          $300.00  the    last   annual    meeting,  and 


88 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


eration  of  the  fact  that  the  bell  was  to  be  very 
largely  used  for  the  benefit  of  all  its  citizens, 
the  town  subsequently  remitted  three  hundred 
dollars  of  this  amount.1 

But  still  again,  in  1828,  the  congregation  had 
outgrown  its  venerable  sanctuary,  and  the  de- 
mand for  more  room  became  imperative.  After 
much  discussion,  a  committee  was  appointed  on 


that  they  be  hereby  authorized 
to  sell  and  convey  the  same  to 
said  society." — Town  Records, 
vol.  3,  p.  96. 

July  25,  1828.  The  town  of 
Concord,  by  Samuel  Herbert, 
Benjamin  Parker  and  Isaac  East- 
man, a  committee  duly  author- 
ized, conveyed  to  the  First  Con- 
gregational Society  in  Concord 
"  all  the  right,  title  and  interest 
we  have  in  and  unto  a  certain 
tract  of  land  situate  in  said 
Concord,  being  the  same  land 
on  which  the  meeting-house  oc- 
cupied by  said  society  now 
stands,  described  as  follows,  to 
wit :  Extending  from  the  south 
side  of  said  house  as  first  built, 
six  rods  south ;  from  the  east 
end  of  said  house,  six  rods  east ; 
from  the  north  side  of  said 
house,  six  rods  north  ;  and  from 
the  west  end  of  said  house  to 
the  original  reserve  for  a  road 
by  the  burying  ground,  includ- 
ing   the    land    on   which    said 


house  stands,  together  with  said 
house  and  the  bell  attached  to 
the  same,  reserving  a  highway 
on  the  south  side  of  said  house 
where  it  now  is  not  less  than 
four  rods  wide,  and  also  at  the 
west  end  of  said  house,  and  re- 
serving the  right  to  have  said 
bell  tolled  at  funerals  and  rung 
as  usual  on  week  days  and  on 
public  occasions ;  no  shed  to  be 
erected  on  said  land  except  on 
the  north  side  of  said  house." — 
Merrimack  Records,  vol.  15,  p. 
380. 

i  November  14, 1828.  "Voted 
that  the  selectmen  be  and  are 
hereby  authorized  to  endorse 
the  sum  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars on  a  note  the  town  holds 
against  the  First  Congregational 
Society  in  Concord,  being  the 
same  which  was  relinquished 
for  the  bell." — Town  Records, 
vol.  3,  p.  121. 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


89 


the  sixteenth  day  of  April  of  this  year  to  alter 
the  square  pews,  on  the  central  portion  of  the 
lower  floor  of  the  house,  into  slips.1    This  change 

1  Number  and  owners  of  pews  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  First 
Congregational  Society's  meeting-house  in  Concord,  in  June,  1828, 
and  to  whom  transferred  : 


Nos.     Names  of  Owners  in  1828 

1  Society's  free  pew. 

2  Jacob  A.  Potter. 

3  Jonathan  Eastman  &  William  West 

4  Mary  Ann  Stickney. 

5  Abial  and  Henry  Rolfe. 

6  Richard  Herbert. 

7  John  Eastman. 

8  Ephraim  Abbott. 

9  Isaac  Virgin. 

10  Hazen  Virgin. 

11  Timothy  Chandler. 

12  John  Odlin. 

13  Charles  Walker. 

14  Laban  Page. 

15  Thomas  D.  Potter  &  Lucy  Davis. 


To  whom  Transferred. 


Society's  pew. 


Samuel  Fletcher. 

Oliver  L.  Sanborn. 

Thos.  D.  Potter  & 
Morril. 


D.  L. 


16  John  West  &  Theodore  French. 

17  Rhoda  Kimball. 

18  Patty  Green. 

19  Moses  Bullen.  D.  N.  Hoyt. 

20  E.  and  C.  Emery's  heirs. 

21  Nathan  Chandler,  Jr. 

22  Harriet  Breed.  James  Sanborn. 

23  Abel  Baker. 

24  Reuben  Goodwin  &  Samuel  Carter.      Sewell  Hoit. 

25  Nathaniel  Eastman  &  Isaac  Emery. 

26  Nathaniel  Ambrose  &  Simeon  Virgin. 

27  Henry  Chandler  &  John  Corlis. 

28  Henry  Martin  &  Isaac  F.  Ferrin.  Benjamin  Parker. 

29  Ephraim  Farnum. 


90  OLD    XORTH   MEETrXG-HOUSE. 

increased  the  number  of  pews  from  ninety-nine 
to  one  hundred  and  ten,  and  raised  the  number 

30  Robert  Davis. 

31  Isaac  Farnum. 

32  Asa  Abbott.  Robert  Davis. 

33  Thomas  B.  Sargent. 

34  Nathan  Ballard,  Jr. 

35  Susanna  Walker. 

36  Robert  Davis.  Wm.  Abbott. 

37  Abial  Walker. 

38  Abial  Walker  &  Xathaniel  Abbott.      A.  B.  Kelley. 

39  Benjamin  H.  Swett. 

40  Society's  Pew.  Xathaniel  Abbott. 

41  Joseph  Farnum.  Abial  Walker. 

42  Ezra  Ballard. 

43  Timothy  Carter. 

44  Abner  Farnum. 

45  Moses  Farnum. 

46  Moses  Carter. 

47  Samuel  B.  Davis  &  A.  B.  Davis. 

48  James  Buswell.  Proctor. 

49  Richard  Ayer.  E.  S.  Towle. 

50  Charles  Eastman. 

51  Isaac  Dow. 

52  James  Eastman. 

53  Daniel  Fisk. 

54  Richard  Flanders  &  Sons. 

55  Betsey  &  Hannah  Whitney. 

56  John  Dimond.  S.  A.  Kimball. 

57  John  George. 

58  Moses  Shute. 

59  George  Hutchins.  James  Straw. 

60  Jonathan  Ambrose. 

61  John  Lovejoy. 

62  Thomas  Potter. 

63  Eliza  Abbott. 

64  Isaac  Shute. 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE.  91 

of  sittings  to   about  twelve  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  east,  south,  and  west  wall  pews  remained 

65  Jonathan  Wilkins.  Ivory  Hall. 

66  Abial  Eastman. 

67  John  Eastman. 

68  Millen  Kimball. 

69  John  Putney.  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

70  Margaret  Dow.  Dr.  Colby. 

71  Samuel  Morril. 

72  Samuel  A.  Kimball. 

73  Asaph  Evans. 

74  Samuel  Fletcher. 

75  Richard  Bradley. 

76  Moses  Hall. 

77  Jeremiah  Pecker. 

78  Enoch  Coffin. 

79  Joseph  Low. 

80  Isaac  Hill  &  Wm.  Hurd. 

81  Charles  Hutchins. 

82  Abel  Hutchins. 

83  Joseph  Eastman.  Jacob  Clough. 

84  Joseph  Eastman.  Simeon  Farnum. 

85  Jacob  Hoit. 

86  Frye  Williams. 

87  Samuel  Herbert. 

88  William  A.  Kent. 

89  William  Stickney. 

90  John  Glover. 

91  Orlando  Brown  &  Sarah  Dearborn. 

92  Richard  Ayer. 

93  Nathaniel  Abbott. 

94  Elizabeth  McFarland. 

95  George  Kent. 

96  Stephen  Ambrose. 

97  Simeon  &  Benjamin  Kimball. 

98  Jonathan  Wilkins. 

99  Parsonage. 


92 


OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


as  they  were.  The  following  plan  shows  the 
arrangement  at  this  time  of  the  aisles  and  seats 
upon  the  first  floor: 


Plan  of  First  Floor  in  1828. 

It  is  a  notable  fact,  that  very  soon  after  the 
meeting-house  had  attained  its  greatest  capacity 
its  congregations  began  rapidly  to  diminish. 
This  was  due  to  the  formation  of  other  religious 
societies.  The  number  of  regular  members, 
which  in  1825  was  two  hundred  and  twenty-two. 


OLD    NORTH    ME  ETIXG- HOUSE.  93 

had  fallen  in  1833  to  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three,  and  the  audiences  had  decreased  corre- 
spondingly. Besides  those  who  had  withdrawn 
to  form  new  organizations  of  other  denomina- 
tions, there  began,  in  the  year  last  named,  a  fur- 
ther exodus  of  members  to  form  the  West  Con- 
cord society.  This  was  followed  by  another,  in 
1837,  to  lay  the  foundations  of  the  South  society. 
These  had  reduced  its  membership  in  184:1  to 
one  hundred  and  five.  The  next  year  the  East 
Concord  members  left,  and  formed  the  Congre- 
gational society  in  that  village.  Thus,  quartered 
and  diminished  in  its  membership  more  than  one 
half,  we  can  readily  see  that  the  remnant  was 
insufficient  to  fill  the  great  structure  of  which  it 
now  found  itself  the  sole  possessor. 

Its  fifty  great  windows,  each  with  its  forty 
panes  of  glass,  looked  more  staring  than  ever 
before,  and  rattled  when  the  wind  blew  as  they 
had  never  rattled  before.  The  voice  of  the  min- 
ister reverberated  through  the  vast  area,  and  his 
eye  sought  in  vain  upon  the  floor  and  in  the 
galleries  the  dense  ranks  of  men,  women,  and 
children,  numbering  some  ten  or  twelve  hun- 
dred, which  had  been  wont  to  greet  him. 

One  is  not,  therefore,  surprised  to  find,  as  he 


94  OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

turns  over  the  well  kept  records  of  the  society, 
that  there  came  one  day  (March  17,  1841),  be- 
fore a  meeting  of  its  members,  a  proposition  to 
leave  the  old  sanctuary  and  build  a  new  and 
smaller  one.  This,  after  long  consultations  and 
various  delays,  caused  in  part  by  differences  of 
preference  as  to  location,  resulted  in  the  erection 
of  a  new  and  third  meeting-house,  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Washington  streets.1 

But  before  leaving  the  old  house  for  the  new 
one,  the  members  of  the  several  societies,  which 
from  time  to  time  had  gone  out  therefrom,  met 
within  its  consecrated  walls,  and,  after  prayer 
and  song  and  pleasant  reminiscences,  bade  it 
farewell  forever.2 

1  This  was  destroyed  by  fire  church ;  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Xoyes 
in  1873.  and  a  fourth  was  sub-  of  the  South  church ;  Rev.  Tini- 
sequently  erected  upon  the  site  othy  Morgan,  preacher  at  East 
of  it.  church ;  and  the  pastor  of  the 

First  church.     In  the  forenoon 

2  "Previous  to  leaving  the  old  of  Friday,  the  pastor  preached 
North  meeting-house  as  a  place  a  discourse  on  reminiscences  of 
of  public  worship,  a  union  meet-  the  old  meeting-house.  In  the 
ing  of  the  four  Congregational  afternoon,  about  five  hundred 
churches  in  town  was  held  in  it.  and  fifty  communicants,  belong- 
The  meeting  was  attended  two  ing  to  the  four  sister  churches, 
successive  days,  viz., — Thursday  sat  down  to  the  Lord's  Supper. 
27th  and  Friday  28th  of  Sep-  It  was  a  season  of  tender  and 
tember,  in  which  the  several  affecting  interest.  Many  wept 
pastors  took  part,  viz., — Rev.  at  the  thought  of  a  separation 
Asa   P.    Tenney    of    the   West  from  the  place  where  they  and 


OLD    NORTH    MEETLXG-HOUSE. 


95 


This  imperfect  sketch  would  be  still  more  so 
should  a  passing  allusion  to  some  of  the  assem- 
blies, other  than  religious,  convened  from  time 
to  time  in  this  honored  house,  be  neglected. 

As  early  as  1778  a  Convention  was  here  holden 
to  form  a  plan  of  government  for  the  state  of 
New  Hampshire. 

The  first  time  the  legislature  ever  met  in 
Concord,  March  13,  1782,  it  assembled  in  this 
house.1  Owing,  however,  to  the  cold,  it  ad- 
journed for  that  session  to  another  building  tem- 


their  fathers  had  so  long  wor- 
shipped."— Bouton's  History  of 
Concord,  p.  452. 

1  The  General  Assembly,  in 
session  at  Exeter,  voted,  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  January,  1782, 
"  That  when  the  business  of 
this  session  is  finished,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  be  adjourned  to  meet 
at  Concord,  at  such  time  as  shall 
be  agreed  upon  by  the  said 
General  Court." — Provincial  Pa- 
pers, vol.  8,  p.  930. 

The  tradition  is,  that  Col. 
Timothy  Walker,  then  a  mem- 
ber of  the  house  from  Concord, 
remarked  to  some  of  the  mem- 
bers who  were  complaining  of 
the  treatment  which  they  had 
received     at     their     boarding- 


houses,  that  if  the  General  As- 
sembly would  hold  its  next  ses- 
sion at  Concord,  they  should  be 
as  well  accommodated  as  at 
Exeter  and  for  half  the  money. 
Thereupon  the  Assembly  ad- 
journed to  Concord. 

Upon  his  return  home  the 
Colonel  informed  his  neighbors 
of  his  promise  and  the  conse- 
quences thereof,  and  that  at  its 
next  session  all  must  open  their 
houses  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  members  of  the  General 
Court.  This  they  at  once  agreed 
to  do,  and  subsequently  did,  to 
general  satisfaction.  Since  then, 
forty-four  sessions  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  had  been  held  in 
Concord,  up  to  1816,  when  it 
became  the  capital  of  the  state. 


96  OLD    NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

porarily  prepared  for  its  accommodation.1  From 
the  year  1782,  onward  to  1790,  when  the  first 
Concord  town-house  was  built,  there  were  held 
in  it  no  less  than  fifteen  sessions  of  the  General 

Court. 

The  adjournment,  just  alluded  to,  suggests 
the  fact  that  for  two  centuries  after  coming  to 
this  country  our  Xew  England  ancestors  had 
no  fires  in  their  sanctuaries.  They  accepted  the 
weather  as  God  sent  it,  and  were  content.  If 
in  summer  the  sun,  shining  through  great  un- 
shaded windows,  dazzled  their  eyes,  they  con- 
tracted their  eyebrows  and  bore  it,  either  with 
winking  or  without,  as  individual  preferences 
suggested.  If  in  winter  the  cold  in  God's  house 
was  intense,  they  shrugged  their  shoulders, 
worked  their  toes,  and,  so  far  as  they  could,  got 
bodily  warmth  from  the  fervor  of  their  devotions. 
But  it  must  have  been  very  chilly  for  the  un- 
godly on  such  occasions.  That  at  the  noon 
intermission  such  should  have  sought  spiritual 
iiivigoratioii  at  Hanaford's  tavern  near  by  may 

xThe  hall  fitted  up  for  this  Enoch   Gerrish.     At  that  time 

occasion  was  in  the  second  story  it  stood  upon  the  east  side  of  the 

of  the  house  now  standing  on  street,  and  a  few  rods  south  of 

the   west  side  of  Main   street,  its  present  location, 
next    north    of    the    house    of 


OLD   NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 


97 


have  been  inexcusable,  but  it  was  not  inconsist- 
ent with  the  native  depravity  of  that  time. 

Means  of  warming'  were  introduced  into  the 
Old  !North  Meeting-House  in  1821.1  A  mod- 
erate sized  box  stove  was  placed  in  the  broad 
aisle.  This  had  a  very  long  funnel,  which  was 
taken  through  the  ceiling  to  a  short  chimney 
in  the  attic. 

This  central  warmer  proved  but  partially  sat- 
isfactory, and  may  have  operated  like  a  similar 
one  in  the  meeting-house  of  another  town,  which 
was  said  to  have  driven  all  the  cold  air  from  the 
middle  of  the  house  to  the  sides,  rendering  the 
wall  pews  more  uncomfortable  than  ever  before. 


1  As  I  can  never  forget  the 
faces  within,  so  I  never  can  the 
furious  winds  which  howled 
about  the  ancient  pile,  the  cold 
by  which  it  was  penetrated,  and 
the  stamping  of  men  and  women 
when  within  the  porches,  as 
they  came  from  afar,  and  went 
direct  from  their  sleighs  to  an 
immense  apartment  in  which 
there  was  no  fire  except  that 
carried  thither  in  foot-stoves. 
The  rattling  of  a  multitude  of 
loose  windows,  my  tingling  feet, 
the  breath  of  people  seen  across 
the  house  as  the,  smoke  of  chim- 
neys   is    discerned    on    frosty 


mornings,  the  impatience  of  the 
congregation,  and  the  rapidity 
of  their  dispersion, — are  they 
not  all  upon  the  memory  of 
those  who  worshipped  in  that 
house,  previous  to  the  year  1821  ? 
Then  my  father  suggested  that 
in  winter  there  be  only  one  ser- 
vice, which  led  to  the  purchase 
of  a  moderate  sized  box  stove, 
and  its  erection  half  way  up  the 
central  aisle.  This,  strange  as 
it  may  seem,  was  a  departure 
from  old  custom  which  encoun- 
tered some  opposition.  —  Biog- 
raphy and  Recollections  by  Asa 
McFarland,  p.  104. 


98  OLD   NORTH   MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  introduction  of  a  stove  into  a  meeting-house 
often  met  great  opposition  and  caused  serious 
commotion.  The  excitement  caused  by  the  set- 
ting up  of  a  stoAre  in  the  meeting-house  at  Web- 
ster, in  1832,  was  quieted  only  by  a  general 
agreement;,  embodied  in  a  vote  passed  at  a  reg- 
ular meeting  of  the  society,  "  to  dispense  with  a 
fire  in  the  stove  the  first  Sabbath  in  each  month 
through  the  cold  season." x 

Before  the  introduction  of  the  stove,  and  even 
afterwards,  many  among  the  more  delicate  por- 
tion of  the  congregation  had  sought  a  slight 
mitigation  of  the  frosts  in  God's  house  by  the 
use  of  foot-stoves.  These  continued  in  quite 
general  use  so  long  as  worship  was  continued  in 
this  house.  The  heat  of  such  a  warmer  came 
from  a  pan  of  coals  inclosed  in  a  box  of  tin.  ]Nb 
man  who  was  a  boy  fifty  or  sLxty  years  ago  will 
ever  forget  the  Sunday  labor  imposed  upon  him 
in  cold  weather  by  the  filling  and  carrying  back 
and  forth  of  one  of  these.  The  stern  fathers  of 
the  previous  generation  may,  very  likely,  have 
regarded  them  as  vanities,  and  this  Sunday  labor 
as  unnecessary  and  sinful.  To  this  good  Puritan 
opinion  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  boys  who 

1  Coffin's  History  of  Boscawen  and  Webster,  p.  238. 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE.  99 

had  mastered  the  catechism,  and  the  families  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  meeting-house  lev- 
ied upon  for  coals,  would  have  readily  assented. 

It  was  in  this  Old  North  Meeting-House,  as 
before  mentioned,  that  the  New  Hampshire  State 
Convention  was  holden,  on  the  21st  day  of  June, 
1788,  which,  as  the  ninth  assembled  for  that 
purpose,  ratified  the  Federal  Constitution  and 
started  upon  its  glorious  career  the  government 
of  the  United  States.  In  this  house  were  also 
held  the  Conventions  of  1781  and  1791  to  revise 
the  Constitution  of  the  state. 

Fourteen  times,  from  1784  to  1806,  did  the  leg- 
islature march  in  formal  procession  to  this  house 
to  hear  the  annual  Election  Sermon,  which  pre- 
ceded its  organization,  and  every  year  after- 
wards until  1831,  when  the  sermon  was  discon- 
tinued. Thirty-nine  of  all  the  Election  Sermons 
preached  before  the  legislature  of  New  Hamp- 
shire were  delivered  from  its  pulpit.1 

From  1765  to  1790,  a  period  of  twenty-five 
years,  all  annual  and  special  town-meetings  were 
held  in  it.     Here  the  legal  voters  of  Concord, 

1  The  Election  Sermon    was  Dr.  Nathaniel  Bouton,  in  1828, 

preached  by  Rev.  Israel  Evans,  who  were    successively  pastors 

in  1791 ;  by  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  Mc-  of  the    people   worshipping   in 

Farland,  in  1808  ;  and  by  Rev.  this  house. 


100  OLD   NORTH   MEETDTO-HOTTSE. 

many  of  whom  rarely  if  ever  met  on  other  occa- 
sions, except  for  divine  worship,  assembled  to  ex- 
change friendly  greetings  and  to  discharge  their 
civil  duties  as  American  citizens.  Here,  also, 
protracted  religions  meetings  were  held  from 
time  to  time,  the  most  memorable  of  which  was 
that  of  1831.  Here  important  addresses  were 
delivered  to  large  assemblies  on  Fourth  of  July, 
and  on  other  occasions  of  general  interest.  Here, 
in  1835,  was  delivered  before  the  General  Court 
a  eulogy  on  Gen.  Lafayette,  by  Hon.  Nathaniel 
G.  Upham.  Here  were  held  conventions  for  the 
promotion  of  temperance.  Here  occurred,  in 
1834  and  1835,  the  memorable  trials  of  Abraham 
Prescott  for  the  murder  of  Mrs.  Sally  Cochran, 
of  Pembroke.  Here  was  had  that  sharp  political 
encounter  between  Franklin  Pierce  and  John  P. 
Hale,  upon  the  latter's  leaving  the  Democratic 
party  in  1845.  The  walls  of  no  other  house  in 
New  Hampshire  resounded  to  so  many  lofty 
nights  of  eloquence  as  did  those  of  this  meeting- 
house from  1751  to  1845. 

A  few  years  after  its  abandonment  this  an- 
cient structure  was  sought  by  the  trustees  of 
the  Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute  as  the 
seat  of  that  institution,  which  it  was  proposed  to 


OLD    NORTH    MEETESTO-HOUSE.  101 

remove  from  Newbury,  Vt.,  to  Concord.  The 
First  Congregational  Society  and  the  pew-holders 
cheerfully  conveyed  to  them  their  several  inter- 
ests in  the  building  and  lot,  and  public-spirited 
citizens  of  Concord  subscribed  some  three  thou- 
sand dollars  for  so  remodelling  the  house  as  to 
suit  the  new  purpose  to  which  it  was  to  be  de- 
voted. The  pulpit,  pews,  and  galleries  were 
removed;  a  second  floor  was  introduced,  and 
the  two  stories,  thereby  secured,  were  divided 
into  dormitories  and  lecture-rooms.1  It  con- 
tinued the  seat  of  the  Institute  until  its  removal 
to  Boston,  when,  in  accordance  with  the  terms 
of  its  conveyance  twenty  years  before,  it  revert- 
ed, with  the  land  upon  which  it  stood,  to  the 
First  Congregational  Society  of  Concord.  It 
was  subsequently  sold  to  private  parties,  and  the 
proceeds  of  its  sale  were  devoted  to  the  purchase 
of  the  First  Congregational  Society's  parsonage. 
With  sad  hearts  its  many  friends  afterward  saw 
it  degraded  to  a  tenement  house  of  a  low  order. 
But  its  desecration  was  brief.  On  the  night  of 
Monday,  November  28, 1870,  the  purifying  angel 
wrapped  her  mantle  about  the  old  building,  and 

1  A  portion  of  the  pulpit  is  in      shire  Historical  Society,  and  in 
possession  of  the  New  Hamp-      good  preservation. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CUTFORNlA 
SANTA  BARBARA  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 


102  OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 

transported  it  heavenward  on  wings  of  flame. 
Not  long  afterwards  the  Union  School  District 
purchased  the  site  of  it,  and  reared  thereon  one 
of  the  fairest  school-houses  of  which  any  New 
Hampshire  town  can  boast.  It  was  named 
from  Concord's  first  minister,!  and  bears  upon 
its  south  facade  a  tablet  with  the  inscription  to 
be  found  on  page  117  of  the  Appendix. 

So,  after  a  useful  existence  of  nearly  four 
generations,  the  Old  North  Meeting-House, 
resolved  into  its  original  elements,  yielded  its 
site  to  another  structure  of  kindred  character  in 
the  great  scheme  of  American  civilization.  It 
was  a  "  meeting-house "  in  the  broadest  New 
England  sense  of  that  word,  and  was  directly 
associated  with  more  important  public  events 
than  any  other  in  the  state. 

But,  at  the  end  of  a  century,  the  Federal 
Constitution,  whose  provisions  first  became  vital 
within  its  walls,  flourishes  in  increasing  vigor. 
The  narrow  belt  of  states  along  the  Atlantic, 
which  its  adoj)tion  compacted  into  an  efficient 
nationality,  have  nearly  trebled  in  number  and 

1  Rev.  Timothy  Walker,   pas-      vember  18,  1730,  to  September 
tor  of  the  First  Congregational      1,  1782. 
Society  in   Concord  from  No- 


OLD    NORTH    MEETING-HOUSE.  103 

stretch  westward  to  the  Pacific.  The  popula- 
tion which  it  at  first  regulated  has  increased 
from  less  than  four  to  more  than  sixty  millions. 
A  manufacturing  interest  of  colossal  dimensions 
has  been  created,  and  an  agriculture,  of  limited 
proportions  at  its  adoption,  has  attained  to  such 
a  magnitude  that  its  products,  expressed  in 
figures,  are  but  vaguely  apprehended.  More- 
over, the  anticipation  is  a  reasonable  one,  that 
the  flag  which  symbolizes  its  principles  and  its 
power  will  ere  long  shelter  more  millions  than 
have  ever  before  been  banded  together  in  one 
nationality,  and  wave  above  the  greatest  effort 
for  the  amelioration  of  the  human  race  which 
history  has  recorded. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


Additional  Biographical  Notices  of  Members  of  the  Fed- 
eral Convention. 

Col.  Piersei  Long  (page  8)  was  born  in  Ports- 
mouth, 1739.  He  received  a  fair  education  under  Maj. 
Samuel  Hale,  the  distinguished  teacher  in  that  town. 
He  became  a  shipping-merchant,  and  continued  in  busi- 
ness until  the  Revolution.  He  was  one  of  the  party 
which  captured  the  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua 
river,  and  was  subsequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
First  Provincial  Congress  at  Exeter,  1775.  He  began 
his  military  career  as  colonel  of  the  1st  New  Hamp- 
shire Regiment,  May,  1776.  Transferred  in  July  fol- 
lowing to  another  command,  he  continued  in  the  ser- 
vice until  the  capture  of  Gen.  Burgoyne  and  his  forces, 
in  the  effort  to  secure  which  he  participated.  He  soon 
afterwards  returned  to  Portsmouth,  where  he  was  hon- 
ored and  esteemed.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  1784-'86,  and  was  subsequently  made 
collector  of  customs  at  that  port.  He  died  April  3, 
1789.  Mr.  Brewster  says  of  him, — "  Col.  Long  was  a 
handsome,  portly  man,  of  unblemished  Christian  char- 
1  Mr.  Brewster  spells  the  name  as  written  above. 


108  APPENDIX. 

acter,  amiable  and  courteous,  a  correct  merchant,  and  a 
good  soldier." 

Dr.  Edmund  Chadwick  (page  11),  the  son  of  Dea- 
con John  Chadwick,  of  Boxford,  Mass.,  was  born  March 
10',  1751.  He  studied  medicine,  and  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolution  enlisted  as  a  private  in  a  Massachu- 
setts company.  From  this  he  was  soon  transferred  to 
the  position  of  surgeon  of  his  regiment.  He  was  pres- 
ent at  the  battles  of  Stillwater,  at  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Burgoyne,  and  passed  the  memorable  winter  of  1777— '78 
at  Valley  Forge.  In  1779,  after  a  service  of  about  three 
years,  he  settled  as  a  physician  at  Deerfield,  where  he 
resided  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  died  Nov.  8, 1826. 

Dr.  Chadwick  was  a  studious  and  able  physician.  In 
1803  he  was  unanimously  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  N.  H. 
Medical  Society.  He  was  repeatedly  called  upon  to 
represent  his  town,  and  the  church  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  on  occasions  when  intelligence,  sagacity,  and 
good  sense  were  of  great  value.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  N.  H.  Constitutional  Convention  in  1782,  Deerfield 
not  sending  a  delegate  the  year  before,  and  of  the  Fed- 
eral Convention  in  1788. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Emery  (page  11)  was  a  substan- 
tial citizen  of  Concord.  He  was  for  many  years  a  mem- 
ber of  its  proprietary  committee,  and  active  in  town  and 
business  affairs.  From  time  to  time  he  held  responsible 
offices.  He  was  captain  of  a  company  of  fifty-one  men 
in  the  Continental  army,  December,  1775,  and  of  a 
larger  one  in  1776.  He  possessed  a  good  estate,  was 
conservative  in  his  views,  and  esteemed  by  his  fellow- 
citizens.     He  died  Nov.  2.  1819,  aged  81. 


APPENDIX.  109 

Gen.  Jonathan  Chase  (page  19)  was  a  leading  cit- 
izen of  Cornish.  In  1771  he  petitioned  Gov.  John 
Wentworth  for  the  confirmation  of  the  grant  of  an 
island  in  the  Connecticut  river  between  Cornish  and 
Windsor.  In  1876  he  was  allowed  three  barrels  of 
powder,  to  be  used  in  defence  of  the  frontiers.  Having 
the  commission  of  colonel,  he  was  also  muster-master 
for  paying  his  regiment.  In  1781  he  petitioned  for 
liberty  to  raise  a  company  of  sixty  men,  to  be  employed 
as  scouts,  for  the  defence  of  the  western  frontiers.  In 
the  disputes  with  Vermont  about  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  he  was  appointed  by  the  town  of  Cornish,  March. 
9,  1779,  as  their  agent  to  attend  a  convention  in  Dres- 
den on  the  20th  of  July ;  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting, 
August  30,  the  same  year,  the  voters  present  unani- 
mously rejected  the  plan  of  government  for  the  state  of 
New  Hampshire,  which  was  sent  to  them.  He  attended 
a  convention  on  the  same  matter  at  Walpole,  Nov.  15, 
1780,  and  another  at  Charlestown,  Feb.  7,  1781. 1 

Feancis  Worcester,  Esq.  (page  20),  who  repre- 
sented Plymouth,  Rumney,  and  Alexandria  as  classed 
towns,  was  a  native  of  Hollis.  In  1776  he  was  coroner 
for  Grafton  county.  In  1777  he  was  chairman  of  the 
town  committee  of  safety ;  in  1777-79,  representative 
to  the  General  Assembly,  and  an  efficient  member,  fill- 
ing various  offices  with  ability  and  promptness ;  in 
1780-82,  a  councillor.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Conventions  of  1778  and  1781,  and  of  the 
Federal  Convention  of  1788. 2 

Col.  Elisha  Payne  (page  20)  was  one  of  the  most 

1  Prov.  and  State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  11.  , 

2  Prov.  and  State  Papers,  vol.  x,  p.  11. 


110  APPENDIX. 

enterprising  men  of  his  time  in  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1731,  and  came  to  this  state 
in  1773  as  one  of  the  proprietors  and  first  settlers  of 
Cardigan,  now  Orange.  Soon  after  1778  he  removed 
to  Lebanon,  induced  thereto  by  a  grant  of  land  condi- 
tioned upon  his  erection  of  grist-  and  saw-mills  in  that 
town. 

He  was  a  leader  of  the  towns  on  the  east  side  of 
Connecticut  river  in  the  Vermont  Controversy,  and  a 
representative  in  the  Assembly  of  that  state  in  1778 
and  1781.  He  was  also  lieutenant-governor  in  1781-82, 
and  chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court.  In  December, 
1781,  he  was  a  major-general  of  the  militia,  and  author- 
ized "  to  call  them  out  to  repel  New  Hampshire  forces, 
'  force  by  force.'  " 

He  was  a  warm  friend  of  Dartmouth  college ;  a  trus- 
tee from  1774  to  1801,  and  its  second  treasurer,  1779- 
'80.  In  1779  the  college  conferred  upon  him  its  hon- 
orary degree  of  A.  M.  He  represented  Lebanon  in  the 
New  Hampshire  legislature  in  1781,  '85,  '90,  '93,  '96,  '97, 
and  1800.     He  died  at  Lebanon,  July  10, 1807,  aged  76. 

Capt.  John  Weeks  (page  21),  the  son  of  Dr.  John 
Weeks,  was  born  in  Hampton,  February  17,  1749. 
While  a  young  man  he  made  repeated  hunting  excurr- 
sions  to  the  wilds  of  the  Kennebec  river  and  of  the 
Upper  Coos.  These  gave  him  a  knowledge  of  those 
sections  of  country,  of  which  he  availed  himself  at  a 
later  date.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  struggle,  and  held  a  captain's 
commission.  Soon  after  the  declaration  of  peace,  in 
1786,  he  went  to  Lancaster,  and  there  purchased  land 
upon  which  he  settled  the  following  year. 


APPEISTDIX.  Ill 

The  farm  of  Capt.  Weeks  has  remained  in  his  family, 
except  for  a  brief  period,  about  a  century.  Upon  it 
he  kept  open  house  for  many  years.  He  was  of  a 
genial  disposition,  possessed  a  broad  common-sense, 
and  was  highly  esteemed.  He  was  active  in  town 
affairs,  and  from  time  to  time  held  important  public 
offices.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Federal  Convention 
in  1788,  a  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1792, 
and  repeatedly  filled  other  important  public  positions. 
He  died  in  September,  1818. 


112  APPENDIX. 


Alleged  abstract  of  a  Speech  in  the  Federal  Convention  by 
Hon.  Joshua  Atherton,  as  printed  in  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Statesman  and  Concord  Register  of 
July  7,  1827. 

IMPORTATION  OF  SLAVES. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  deplored  that  no  records  of  the 
debates  of  the  Convention  of  N.  H.,  which  adopted  the 
Federal  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  have  been 
preserved.  They  would  be  of  inestimable  importance 
to  the  present  and  future  inquirers  into  the  origin  and 
establishment  of  our  political  institutions.  We  do  not 
recollect  that  a  single  speech  on  the  adoption  of  any 
one  section  of  the  Constitution  was  ever  published.  By 
accident  we  lately  found  the  following  abstract  of  one 
made  by  the  Honorable  Joshua  Atherton,  delegate 
from  Amherst,  on  that  section  relating  to  the  Importa- 
tion of  Slaves,  in  the  following  words,  viz.,  "  The  Migra- 
tion or  Importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the  states 
now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit  shall  not  be 
prohibited  by  congress  prior  to  1808,  but  a  tax  or  duty 
may  be  imposed  on  such  Importation  not  exceeding  ten 
dollars  for  each  person." 

Mr.  Dow,  the  delegate  from  Weare,  spoke  very  sensi- 
bly and  feelingly  against  this  paragraph.  Several  mem- 
bers on  the  other  side  spoke  in  favor  of  it,  with  remarks 
on  what  Mr.  Dow  had  said,  after  which  Mr.  Atherton 
of  Amherst  spoke  as  follows  : 

Mr.  President : — I  cannot  be  of  the  opinion  of  the 
honorable  gentleman  who  last  spoke,  that  this  paragraph 


APPENDIX.  113 

is  either  so  unjust  [just?]  or  so  inoffensive  as  they  seem 
to  imagine,  or  that  the  objections  to  it  are  so  totally  void 
of  foundation.  The  idea  that  strikes  those  who  are  op- 
posed to  this  clause  so  disagreeably  and  so  forcibly  is, — 
hereby  it  is  conceived  (if  we  ratify  the  Constitution} 
that  we  become  concenters  to  and  partakers  in  the  sin 
and  guilt  of  this  abominable  traffic,  at  least  for  a  certain 
period,  without  any  positive  stipulation  that  it  shall 
even  then  be  brought  to  an  end.  We  do  not  behold  in 
it  that  valuable  acquisition,  (?)  so  much  boasted  of  by 
the  honorable  member  from  Portsmouth,  "that  an  end  is 
then  to  be  put  to  slavery."  Congress  may  be  as  much  or 
more  puzzled  to  put  a  stop  to  it  then  than  we  are  now. 
The  clause  has  not  secured  its  abolition. 

We  do  not  think  [we  are]  under  any  obligation  to  per- 
form works  of  supererogation  in  the  reformation  of  man- 
kind. We  do  not  esteem  ourselves  under  any  necessity 
to  go  to  Spain  or  Italy  to  suppress  the  Inquisition  of 
those  countries  ;  or  of  making  a  journey  to  the  Carolinas 
to  abolish  the  detestable  custom  of  enslaving  the  Afri- 
cans ; — but,  sir,  we  will  not  lend  the  aid  of  our  ratifica- 
tion to  this  cruel  and  inhuman  merchandise,  not  even  for 
a  day.  There  is  a  great  distinction  in  [between  ?]  not 
taking  a  part  in  the  most  barbarous  violation  of  the  sacred 
laws  of  God  and  humanity,  and  our  becoming  guarantees 
for  its  exercise  for  a  term  of  years.  Yes,  sir,  it  is  our  full 
purpose  to  wash  our  hands  clear  of  it,  and  however 
unconcerned  spectators  we  may  remain  of  such  preda- 
tory infractions  of  the  laws  of  our  nation,  however 
unfeelingly  we  may  subscribe  to  the  ratification  of  man- 
stealing  with  all  its  baneful  consequences,  yet  I  cannot 
but  believe,  in  justice  to  human  nature,  that  if  we  re- 
verse the   consideration    [conditions?]   and   bring  this 


114  APPENDIX. 

claimed  power  somewhat  nearer  to  our  own  doors,  we 
shall  form  a  more  equitable  opinion  of  its  claim  to  this 
ratification. 

Let  us  figure  to  ourselves  a  company  of  these  man- 
stealers,  well  equipped  for  the  enterprise,  arriving  on 
our  coast.  They  seize  or  carry  off  the  whole  or  a  part 
of  the  town  of  Exeter.  Parents  are  taken  and  children 
left,  or,  possibly,  they  may  be  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a 
whole  family  taken  and  carried  off  together  by  these 
relentless  robbers  :  what  must  be  their  feelings  in  the 
hands  of  their  new  and  arbitrary  masters?  Dragged  at 
once  from  everything  they  hold  dear  to  them,  stripped 
of  every  comfort  of  life  like  beasts  of  prey,  they  are 
hurried  on  a  loathsome  and  distressing  voyage  to  the 
coast  of  Africa  or  some  other  quarter  of  the  globe, 
where  the  greatest  price  may  waft  them  ;  and  here,  if 
anything  can  be  added  to  their  miseries,  comes  on  the 
heart-breaking  scene — a  parent  is  sold  to  one,  a  son  to 
another,  and  a  daughter  to  a  third.  Brother  is  cleft 
from  brother,  sister  from  sister,  and  parents  from  their 
darling  offspring.  Broken  with  every  distress  that 
human  nature  can  feel,  and  bedewed  with  tears  of 
anguish,  they  are  dragged  into  the  last  stage  of  depres- 
sion and  slavery,  never,  never  to  behold  the  faces  of  one 
another  again.  The  scene  is  too  affecting :  I  have  not 
fortitude  to  pursue  the  subject. 


APPENDIX.  115 


Report  of  a  Speech  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan  in  the  Federal 
Convention,  as  quoted  from  the  Freeman's  Oracle 
of  March  7,  1788,  by  Hon.  Thomas  C.  Amory  in  his 
Life  of  Gen.  Sullivan,  pp.  230,  231. 

Every  part  of  the  Constitution  exhibits  proof  of  the 
wisdom  of  those  that  framed  it,  and  no  one  article  meets 
my  approbation  more  than  the  one  under  consideration. 
All  acknowledge  that  causes  wherein  ambassadors,  other 
public  ministers  or  consuls,  wherein  citizens  of  differ- 
ent states  are  parties,  or  foreigners  are  interested,  ought 
to  come  under  cognizance  of  the  Federal  jurisdiction ; 
and,  if  this  be  just  and  reasonable,  it  is  equally  so  that 
causes  between  different  states  should  be  tried  by  the 
same  tribunal.  There  are  few  of  us  who  have  not  been 
witness  to  the  bias  the  most  upright  judges  have  upon 
their  minds  in  deciding  causes  between  their  own  citi- 
zens and  foreigners  or  citizens  of  another  state.  The 
limits  of  the  eastern  boundary  of  this  state  were  for- 
merly disputed  by  Massachusetts.  Towns  upon  or  nigh 
the  line  had  been  granted  by  both.  The  Massachusetts 
grantees  commenced  actions  of  trespass  against  the  New 
Hampshire  settlers  in  the  county  of  York ;  and  the 
court  held,  upon  consideration,  that  the  lands  were 
within  that  county.  Similar  actions  were  commenced 
by  the  New  Hampshire  settlers  within  their  own  prov- 
ince, and  the  courts  determined  the  actions  were  well 
brought.  The  controversy  was  long  continued,  till  at 
length  the  parties,  observing  the  inefficiency  of  the  laws 
of  either  province  to  determine  a  question  of  this  kind, 
compromised  the  dispute. 


116  APPENDIX. 

The  mode  pointed  out  by  the  Constitution  remedies 
these  evils.  Tribunals,  upon  the  adoption  of  this  gov- 
ernment, may  be  instituted  where  the  grants  of  different 
states  will  have  no  more  weight  than  their  intrinsic 
goodness  will  warrant ;  where  it  will  not  be  so  much 
considered  whether  a  party  belongs  to  Massachusetts  or 
New  Hampshire,  as  whether  his  cause  b.e  just.  And  all 
this  we  may  certainly  predict  without  any  party  being 
ruined  in  the  prosecution  or  defence  of  his  rights.  Jus- 
tice will  be  administered  without  any  extraordinary 
expense  to  the  subject ;  and  congress,  under  such  regu- 
lations as  they  are  empowered  by  the  Constitution  to 
make,  provide  for  the  easy  and  expeditious  dispensing 
of  law.  It  seems  singular  that  gentlemen  who  consid- 
ered the  British  king  was  as  eligible  as  that  of  any  peo- 
ple could  be,  complain  of  this  regulation  as  a  hardship, 
and  destructive  of  the  rights  of  the  people.  They 
quietty  suffered  an  appeal  to  Great  Britain  in  all  causes 
of  consequence.  They  then  boasted  of  their  liberties  ; 
boasted  of  the  liberty  of  appealing  to  judges  ignorant 
of  our  situation,  and  prejudiced  against  the  name  of  an 
American.  And  will  they  now  object  to  this  provision 
in  the  Constitution  ?  Could  they  be  content  under  their 
former  bondage,  and  will  they  now  reject  a  Constitution 
because  an  unprejudiced  American  court  are  to  be  their 
judges  in  certain  causes,  under  such  limitations  and 
regulations  as  the  representatives  shall  provide  ? 


APPENDIX.  117 

Inscription  on  the  School- House  now  occupying  the  site  of 
the  Old  North  Meeting-House  in  Concord. 


ON  THIS  SPOT, 

CONSECRATED  TO   RELIGION  AND  LEARNING, 

WAS  ERECTED  IN  1751 

THE  FIRST  FRAMED  MEETING  HOUSE 

IN  CONCORD, 

WIirCH  WAS  USED  FOR  NINETY  ONE  YEARS 

AS  A  PLACE  OF  WORSHIP  BY 

THE  FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIETY 

OF  THE  TOWN, 

AND  WITHIN  WHOSE  WALLS  ASSEMBLED 

IN  1788 

THE  NINTH  STATE  CONVENTION  WHICH  RATIFIED 

THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

FROM  1847  TO  1867 

IT  WAS  OCCUPIED  BY 

THE  METHODIST  GENERAL  BIBLICAL  INSTITUTE. 

BURNED  IN  1870, 

ITS  SITE  WAS  PURCHASED  BY 

THE   UNION   SCHOOL    DISTRICT, 

WHICH  HAS  CAUSED  TO  BE  ERECTED 

THEREON  THIS  STRUCTURE, 

A.  D.  1873. 


118  APPENDIX. 


Extracts  from  the  Report  of  the  Centennial  Celebration  of 
the  Ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  New 
Hampshire  by  the  N.  H  Historical  Society,  on  the 
•list  day  of  June,  1888,  published  in  the  Concord 
Evening  Monitor. 

ONE    HUNDRED    YEARS. 

THE     CONSTITUTIONAL    CENTENNIAL     FITTINGLY    CELE- 
BRATED. 

This  has  been  a  red-letter  day  in  the  annals  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Historical  Society.  The  Constitutional 
Centennial  has  been  most  appropriately  observed,  with 
oration,  poem,  banquet,  and  after-dinner  addresses,  by 
men  distinguished  in  public  and  private  life,  in  politics 
and  in  letters.  The  society's  committee,  upon  whom  has 
devolved  the  work  of  arranging  for  the  day's  exercises, 
has  been  a  most  efficient  one. 

ORATION    AND   POEM. 

At  noon  members  of  the  society  and  others  assembled 
in  the  opera-house  to  listen  to  the  oration  and  poem. 
Gov.  Sawyer,  Hon  J.  E.  Sargent,  president,  George  L. 
Balcom  of  Claremont,  vice-president,  and  Hon.  Amos 
Hadley,  recording  secretary  of  the  society,  and  the 
Orator  and  Poet  of  the  day,  occupied  seats  upon  the 
stage.  Judge  Sargent  made  a  brief  introductory  ad- 
dress, in  which  he  alluded  to  the  event  which  was  being 
commemorated.     He  introduced  as  orator  Hon.  James 


APPENDIX.  119 

W.  Patterson,  of  Hanover,  who  delivered  the  oration. 
At  its  elose  Judge  Sargent  introduced  Allen  Eastman 
Cross,  of  Manchester,  as  the  Poet  of  the  day. 

THE   BANQUET. 

The  banquet  at  Chase's  hall  was  a  most  elaborate 
affair.  Dooling  of  Boston  was  caterer,  and  gave  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  work  of  efficient  employes.  The 
hall  made  an  attractive  place  for  such  an  event,  and 
presented  an  elegant  appearance  with  its  five  richly  laid 
tables.  The  table  of  honor  was  placed  across  the  south 
side  of  the  hall ;  and  at  right  angles  to  it,  extending  the 
whole  length  of  the  hall,  were  four  other  tables.  Plates 
were  laid  for  200  people.  The  dinner  was  served  by 
courses,  in  an  entirely  satisfactory  manner. 

At  Judge  Sargent's  right  sat  Hon.  James  W.  Patter- 
son, Gov.  Sawyer,  Hon.  Mellen  Chamberlain  of  Boston, 
Hon.  Amos  Hadley,  Hon.  George  B.  Loring  of  Salem, 
Mass.,  Rev.  James  DeNormandie  of  Boston,  and  Hon. 
Robert  S.  Rantoul  of  Salem,  Mass. 

Upon  his  left  were  Allen  Eastman  Cross,  President 
Bartlett,  Rev.  Edward  Everett  Hale,  D.  D.,  of  Boston, 
Hon.  Samuel  C.  Eastman,  Hampton  L.  Carson  of 
Philadelphia,  secretary  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion Celebration,  Hon.  Frank  B.  Sanborn  of  Concord, 
Mass.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  F.  D.  Ayer. 

Among  the  other  distinguished  guests  from  out  of 
town  were  Hon.  Charles  Levi  Woodbury  of  Boston, 
Capt.  Woolmer  Williams  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  of  London,  F.  A.  Stone  of  Philadelphia,  Capt. 
A.  A.  Folsom  of  Boston,  Charles  Carleton  Coffin  of 
Boston,  Hon.  E.  H.  Elwell  of  Portland,  Me.,  Col.  Albert 
H.  Hoyt  of  Boston,  Rev.  Henry  A.  Hazen  of  Billerica, 


120  APPENDIX. 

Mass.,  Hon.  Nathaniel  F.  Safford  of  Boston  Hon.  Daniel 
Barnard  of  Franklin,  Hon.  Ira  Colby  of  Claremont, 
Hon.  John  J.  Bell  of  Exeter,  William  B.  Trask  of  Boston, 
ex-Gov.  Frederick  Smyth  of  Manchester,  George  L.  Bal- 
com  of  Claremont,  Henry  M.  Baker,  Esq.,  of  Bow,  Rev. 
Harry  Brickett,  Hon.  John  W.  Noyes  of  Chester,  Hon. 
David  Cross,  Herman  F.  Straw,  E.  M.  Topliff,  Rev.  C.  S. 
Murkland,  Col.  J.  B.  Clarke  and  Hon.  L.  B.  Clough  of 
Manchester,  Prof.  Isaac  Walker  and  George  B.  Little 
of  Pembroke,  and  Isaac  K.  Gage  of  Penacook.  A  large 
share  of  the  gentlemen  named  were  accompanied  by 
ladies.  The  professional  and  business  circles  of  our 
own  city  were  finely  represented  in  the  gathering. 


IKDEX. 


Abbot,  Asa  90 
Abbot,  Eliza  90 
Abbot,  Ephraim  89 
Abbot,  Jacob  82,  83 
Abbot,  Moses  75 
Abbot,  Nathan  75 
Abbot,  Nathaniel  90,  91 
Abbot,  Reuben  75 
Abbot,  Reuben  2d  75 
Abbot,  William  16,  42,  90 
Adams,  Benjamin  9,  42 
Adjournment  of  Convention,  29 
Allen,  Aaron  18 
Ambrose,  Jonathan  90 
Ambrose,  Nathaniel  89 
Ambrose,  Stephen  82,  91 
Amory,  Thomas  C.  4,  15 
Announcement  of  results,  48,  54 
Atherton,  Charles  G.  15 
Atherton,  Charles  H.  4,  15,  23 
Atherton,  Joshua  4,   15,  23,  27 
29,  39,  40-42,  44,  53,  112 
Anti-Federalists,  22 
Austin,  Nicholas  14,  42 
Ayer,  F.  D.  119 
Ayer,  Richard  82,  90,  91 


Badger,  Hon.  Joseph  13,  39,  42 
Badger,  Capt.  Joseph  13 
Badger,  William  13 


Baker,  Abel  89 
Baker,  H.  M.  120 
Balcom,  Geo.  L.  118,  120 
Ballard,  Ezra  90 
Ballard,  N.  Jr.  90 
Barnard,  D.  120 
Barrett,  Charles  15,  23,  27,  40 

42 
Barstow,  George  4 
Bartlett,  Josiah    10,  23,  39,  41 

42,  52 
Bartlett,  Samuel  C.  119 
Bartlett,  Thomas  10,  39,  42 
Bean,  Joseph  43 
Bean,  Lieut.  43 
Bean,  Nathaniel  17,  42 
Bedee,  Daniel  14,  42 
Bell,  84,  85,  88 
Bell,  John  J.  120 
Bellows,  Col.  Benjamin  18 
Bellows,  Gen.  Benjamin  18,  39 

42,  52 
Bettan,  James  12,  42 
Bixby,  Daniel  15,  42 
Bixby,  Thomas  16,  42 
Blanchard,  John  70,  82,  83 
Blanchard,  Joseph  9,  42 
Bouton,  Nathaniel  99 
Bow  Controversy,  67,  68,  69 
Bradley,  Lieut.  John  so 
Bradley,  Richard  78,  91 
Breed,  Harriet  89 
Brewster,  C.  W.  107 


122 


IXDEX. 


Brickett,  Harry  120 
Brown,  Enoch  82,  83 
Brown,  Joseph  85 
Brown,  Orlando  91 
Bnllen,  Moses  89 
Bnswell,  James  90 


Calfe,  John  11,  24,  42,  52 
Carr,  Moses  13,  12 
Carson,  H.  L.  119 

Carter,  Moses  90 
Carter,  Samuel  89 
Carter,  Timothy  90 
Celebration  at  Portsmouth,   56 
Celebration  at  Salem  and  else- 
where, 61 
Celebration  Centennial,  118-120 
Chadwick,  Edmund  11,  42,  108 
Chadwick,  John  107 
Chamberlain,  Mellen  119 
Chamberlain,  Moses  18,  42 
Chandler,  Henry  89 
Chandler,  Nathan  89 
Chandler,  Timothy  89 
Chase,  Jonathan  19,  42,  109 
Chase,  Thomas  11,  42 
Chesley,  Jonathan  14.  42 
Clarke".  J.  B.  120 
Clough,  Benjamin  10,  42 
Clough,  Jacob  91 
Clough,  Jeremiah  11,  42 
Clough,  L.  B.  120 
Cochran,  John  16,  14 
Cochran,  Sally  100 
Coffin,  C.  C.  119 
Coffin,  Enoch  91 
Colby,  Ira  120 
Concord  Evening  Monitor,  118 


Collins,  John  43 
Connecticut  Courant,  32 
Continental  Congress,  1 
Convention,  Federal  2 
Conventions,  Constitutional 

45,  99 
Corliss,  John  S9 
Cragin.  John  16,  42 
Cram,  Jonathan  43 
Crawford,  Thomas  20,  42 
Cross,  A.  E.  119 
Cross,  David  120 
Cummings,  Ebenezer  15,  42 

D 

Dakin,  Amos  15.  42 
Daniels,  Samuel  11.  43 
Davis.  A.  B.  90 
Davis,  Lucy  89 
Davis,  Kobert  90 
Davis,  Samuel  90 
Dearborn,  Benjamin  59 
Dearborn,  Sarah  91 
DeXormandie,  James  119 
Dimond,  John  90 
Dix,  Nathan  16 
Dole,. Stephen  15,  42 
Dow,  Evan  16 
Dow,  Isaac  90 
Dow,  Jonathan  16,  42,  112 
Dow,  Margaret  91 
Dow,  Thomas  12,  39,  42 

E 

East  Concord  Society,  93 
Eastman,  Abial  !»1 
Eastman,  Charles  90 
Eastman,  Edward  43 
Eastman,  Isaac  87,  88 


INDEX. 


123 


Eastman,  James  90 
Eastman,  John  89,  91 
Eastman,  Jonathan  89 
Eastman,  Joseph  91 
Eastman,  Nathaniel  89 
Eastman,  Philip  69 
Eastman,  Samuel  C.  119 
Election  Sermons,  66,  99 
Elwell,  E.  H.  119 
Emery,  Benjamin  11.  42,  70,  80 
82,  83,  85,  108 
Emery,  E.  and  C.  89 
Emery,  Isaac  89 
Enlargement  of  Meeting-JIouse, 
81,  83 
Episcopal  Society,  87 
Evans,  Asaph  91 
Evans,  Israel  94 
Evans,  Uriel  19 


Fahius,  5 

Farnum,  Abner  90 
Farnum,  Ephraim  89 
Farnum,  Joseph  75,  90 
Farnum,  Moses  90 
Farnum,  Simeon  91 
Farrar,  Timothy  27 
Federal  Constitution,  102 
Federal  Convention,  99 
Federal  Courts,  115,  116 
Federalists,  22,  35 
Ferrin,  Isaac  F.  89,  90 
Fifield,  Jonathan  43 
Fifield,  Stephen  11,  42 
First  Baptist  Society,  87 
First  Congregational  Society, 

87,  101 


First  factory[in  N.  II.,  15 

Fisk, 'Daniel  90 

Flanders,  Richard  90 

Fletcher,  Samuel  <S9,  91 

Floor  plan  of  Meeting-House,  92 

Fogg,  Jeremiah  9,  42 

Folsom,  A.  A.  119 

Fort  William  and  Mary,  7 

Fourth  of  July  orations,  100 

Freeman,  Jonathan  20,  42 

Freeman's  Oracle,  4,  115    • 

French,  Theodore  89 

G 

Gage,  I.  K.  120 
Gale,  John  C.  43 
Gallery,  75 
Gallery  floor  plan,  8  1 
Gaskill,  Jonathan  17,  42 
General  Court,  65 
George,  John  90 
Gerrish,  Enoch  96 
Gerrish,  Joseph  17,  I:? 
Oilman,  John  T.  8,  -J).  12.  52 
Oilman,  Nicholas  8 
Olidden,  Charles  11,  42 
Glover,  John  91 
Going  to  meeting,  78 
Goodwin,  Reuben  89 
Goodwin,  Samuel  75 
Goss,  Nathan  9,  4:? 
Gray,  James  11,  42 
Green,  Ezra  12,  42 
Green,  Jacob  16,  42 
Green,  Peter  70,  80 
Green,  Patty  89 
Griffin,  Samuel  19,  42 
Grout,  Daniel  19,  42 


124 


INDEX. 


Hadley,  Amos  118,  119 

Hale,  Edward  E.  11!) 

Hale,  John  P.  100 

Hale,  Samuel  13,  42,  107 

Hall,  Aaron  17,  42 

Hall,  Ivory  91 

Hall,  John  15,  42 

Hall,  Joseph  71 

Hall,  Moses  91 

Hamilton,  Alexander  55 

Hampton,  L.  C.  119 

Hancock,  John  54 

Hanniford,  Benjamin  70 

Harper,  William  13,  42 

Harris,  Robert  71 

Harvey,  Solomon  18,  42 

Hazen,  H.  A.  119 

Herbert,  Richard  89 

Herbert,  Samuel  87,  88,  91 

Hill,  Col   57 

Hill,  Isaac  91 

Hill,  Reuben  14 

Hoit,  Jacob  91 

Hoit,  Sewell  89 

Hooper,  William  M.  14,  23,  29 

40-42 
Horse-Block,  78,  79 
Hoyt,  A.  H.  119 
Hoyt,  D.  X.  89 
Hunt,  William  15,  42 
Hurd,  William  91 
Hutch  ins,  Abel  87,  91 
Hutchins,  Charles  91 
Hutchins,  George  90 
Hutchins,  Joseph  20,  42 


Independent  Chronicle,  63 


Influence  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Convention,  35 
Instruction  to  members,  27,  28 
Investigation  of  the  Consti- 
tution, 26 

J 

Jewett,  Jedediah  18 
Johnson,  Jesse  20,  42 
Jones,  Benjamin  16 
Jones,  John  Paul  12,  42 
Journal  of  the  X.  II.  Federal 

Convention,  3 
Judkins,  Leonard  13 

K 

Kelley,  A.  B.  90 
Kent,  George  91 
Kent,  William  A.  82,  87,  91 
Kimball,  Benjamin  91 
Kimball,  John  70,  80,  82,  83 
Kimball,  Joseph  19,  42 
Kimball,  Milieu  91 
Kimball,  Reuben  80 
Kimball,  Rhoda  89 
Kimball,  Samuel  A.  90,  91 
Kimball,  Simeon  91 
Kindrick,  Daniel  15,  42 
King,  Rufus  29,  55 
Knox,  Henry  31,  32,  55 


Ladd,  Nathaniel  6,  10 
Lafayette,  Gen.  16,  100 
Langdon,  John  7,  8,  23,  26,  29 
38-42,  51,  52,  54,  57 
Langdon,  John  L.  7,  23 
Langdon,  Samuel  9,  26,  42 
Langdon,  Tobias  7,  42 
Leader  of  the  Federalists,  52 


INDEX. 


125 


Leader  of  the   Anti-Federal- 
ists, 58 

Leave-taking  of  the  old  North 
Meeting-House,  94 

Legislature,  first  meeting  of 
at  Concord,  77,  95 

Little,  G.  B.  120 

Livermore,  John  19 

Liverniore,  Samuel  7,  19,  23,  25 
26,  38,  39,  41,  42,  46,  52,  53 

Long,  Pierse  8,  42,  107 

Loring,  G.  B.  119 

Lovejoy,  John  90 

Lovejoy,  Chandler  75 

Low,  Joseph  91 

M 

McFarland,  Rev.  Asa  87,  99 
McFarland,  Asa  97 

McFarland,  Elizabeth  91 
McMurphy,  Archibald  9,  42 
Main  question  put,  42 
Manning,  Thomas  57 
Martin,  Henry  70,  84 
Massachusetts  Centinel,  33 
Massachusetts  newspapers,  5 
Meeting-House,  1st  of  Con- 
cord, 66 
Meeting-House  lot,  70,  80 
Meeting-House    of  Exeter, 

1788,  24 
Meeting-House,   Old   North   37 
65-67,  70-73,  75,  101 
Methodist   General    Biblical 

Institute,  100 
Moody,  Amos,  12,  42 
Morgan,  Timothy  94 
Morril,  D.  L.  89 


Morril,  Samuel  91 
Morss,  Joshua  16,  12 
Murkland,  C.  S.  120 

N 

Negroes'  pew,  76 
Nesmith,  George  W.  43 
N.  H.  Gazette,  4,  5,  55 
N.  H.  Historical  Society,  118 
N.  H.  Statesman,  5 
New  York  Convention,  37 
Noyes,  Daniel  J.  94 
Noyes,  J.  W.  120 
Number  of  delegates,  6 
Number  of  towns  and  places 
represented,  6 


Odlin,  John  89 

Opposition   to   the    Constitu- 
tion, 27 
Osgood,  Peter  85 


Page,  David  14,  42 
Page,  Laban  89 
Page,  William  15,  42 
Palmer,  Bai-nabas  13,  42 
Parker,  Abel  18,  23,  29,  39,  40, 42 
Parker,  Benjamin  87-89 
Parker,  Samuel  18 
Patterson,  Isaac  20,  42 
Patterson,  J.  W.  119 
Paul  III,  2 

Payne,  Elisha  20,  42,  109 
Pecker,  Jeremiah  91 
Pickering,  John  8,  26,  40,  42,  52 
Pierce,  Franklin  100 


120 


INDEX. 


Pillions,  78 

Pinneman,  Thomas  19,  42 

Plan  of  Gallery,  84 

Population  of  Concord  in 
1800,  77 

Population  of  Xew  Hamp- 
shire in  1788,  6 

Potter,  Jacob  A.  89 

Potter,  Thomas  90 

Potter,  Thomas  D.  89 

Prescott,  Abraham  100 

Prescutt,  Henry  9,  42 

Progress  of  Ratification  illus- 
trated by  columns,  34 

Pulpit,  73,  74,  101 

Putney,  John  91 

R 

Ranney,  Thomas  S.  10,  42 
Pvantoul.  R.  S.  119 
Ratification  by  other  states, 

34,35 
Recess  of  Convention,  28 
Reed,  James  12 
Rejoicings,  54: 
Remmele,  John  19,  42 
Renton,  Peter  76 
Roach,  John  80 
Robbins,  Mary  P.  18 
Rogers,  Xathaniel  10,  42 
Rolfe,  Abial  89 
Rolfe,  Henry  89 
Rolfe,  Paul  82 
Rowell,  Christopher  75 
Rules  of  the  Convention,  24 
Runnels,  Daniel  9,  42 


Safford,  X.  F.  100 


Sale    of   town's    interest    in 
the  Meeting-House.  87 

Sanborn,  F.  B.  11!) 

Sanborn,  James  89 

Sanborn,  O.  L.  89 

Sargent,  J.  F.  118,  119 

Sargent,  Thomas  B.  85,  90 

Sawyer,  Charles  H.  118,  119 

Scammel,  Col.  16 

Session    of    the    Convention, 
First  6,  30 

Session    of    the   Convention, 
Second  37 

Severance,  Joseph  43 

Sexton's  salary.  85,  86 

Shannon,  Xathaniel  14.  42 

Shattuck,  Job  18 

Shepherd,  Oliver  17.  42 

Shnte.  Isaac  9(1 

Shute,  John  75 

Shute.  Moses  90 

Sias.  Benjamin  11,  42 

Simpson,  AYilliam  20,  42 

Singing-Seats,  75.  76 

Slaves,^,  112-114 

Sleeper,  Xehemiah  11.  42 

Smith,  Ebenezer  14,  40-43 

Smith,  Jonathan  19,  40,  43 

Smith,  Col.  Jonathan  11,  40,  42 

Smith,  John  43 

Smith,  Robert  43 

Smyth,  Frederick  120 

South  Congregational  Society, 

93 

Stark,  John  7 

Steward,  Robert  12,  42 

Stickney,  Mary  Ann  89 

Stickney,  William  91 

Stone,  Benjamin  12,  42 


FNT>EX. 


127 


Stone,  F.  A.  11!) 
Stone,  Matthias  19,  23,  29,  42 
Straw,  H.  F.  120 
Straw,  James  90  ■ 
Sullivan,  James  12 
Sullivan,  John  12,  2:5,  21,  31,  38 
39,  42,  51,  52,  55,  115 
Sunday  greetings,  77 
Swett,  Benjamin  H.  90 

T 

Tainter,  Jedediah  19,  42 

Taylor,  Ann  8 

Taylor,  John  8 

Taylor,  Timothy  15,  42 

Temple,  Archelaus  18,  42 

Tenney,  A.  P.  94 

The  grandest  period  of  Amer- 
ican history,  1 

Thomas  Othniel,  18,  42 

Thurston,  Benjamin    9,  26,  29 

42 

Toleration  Act,  86 

Topliff,  E.  M.  120 

Toppan,  Christopher  9,  42 

Town-meetings,  99 

Towns    and   places   unrepre- 
sented, 6,  7 

Towle,  E.  S.  90 

Trask,  W.  B.  120 

True,  Moses  19,  42 

True,  Jacob  43 

U 

Union  School  District,  102 
Upham,  Nathaniel  G.  100 


Venduing  the  ringing  of  the 
bell,  85 


Vote  on   Ratification,    Analy- 
sis of,  44-47 
Virgin,  Abial  82 
Virgin,  Ilazen  89 
Virgin,  Isaac  89 
Virgin,  Simeon  89 
Virginia  Convention,  37 

W 

Walker,  Abial  90 

"Walker,  Charles  89 

"Walker,  Isaac  120 

Walker,  James  80 

Walker,  Joseph  77,  87 

Walker,  Joseph  B.  79 

Walker,  Susannah  90 

Walker,  Col.  Timothy  71,  80,  95 

Walker,  Rev.  Timothy  68,  102 

Walker  School-House,  66,  117 

Warming  of  Meeting-Houses, 

96-98 
Weare,  Meshech  20 
Weather-cock,  71 
Webster,  Daniel  17 
Webster,  Ebenezer  4,  17,  43,  44 
Webster,  Ezekiel  17 
Weeks,  Ichabod  9,  42 
Weeks,  Capt.  John  21,  42,  110 

111 
Weeks,  Dr.  John  110 
Wentworth,  Col.  57 
West,  Benjamin  17,  23,  39,  42 
West,  John  89 
West,  Samuel  17 
West,  Thomas  17 
West,  William  89 
West  Concord  Cong'l  Society,  93 
Whitcomb,  Elisha  17,  42 
Whitney,  Betsey  and  Hannah,  90 


128 


INDEX. 


Wiggin,  Jonathan  9,  42 
Wiggin,  Sherburne  85 
Wilder,  Luke  43 
Wilkins,  Jonathan  91 
Wilkins,  Robert  B.  16,  42 
Williams,  Frye  91 
Williams,  Woolmer  119 


Winch,  Caleb  19,  42 
Woodbury,  C.  L.  119 
Woodward,  Capt.  57 
Worcester,    Francis   20, 


Young,  Samuel  21,  42 


39,  42 
109 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


SEP  9     1977 


50m  9,'66(G6338s8)9482 


AA    000  790  256    2 


